OPINION:
ibrahim muhammad nura@muhammadnuraibrahim848393
7 days ago
Governor Buni’s Rule: A Vision That Brightens Up Yobe State’s Future
By Mal. Ibrahim M. Nura
Executive Director,
Yobe State Youth Concern for Good Leadership.
Today, the Honorable Governor of Yobe State, H.E. Hon. Mai Mala Buni, FCIA, CON, COMN, is celebrating six years as the sworn-in Governor of Yobe State under the flag bearer of APC, which is from 2019 to 2025.
The governor has shown great courage, expertise, and leadership skills as he took over the state when it was in a difficult situation following the deterioration of every sector due to the rise in terrorist activities that have destroyed almost all the sectors that the people of the state enjoy and have destroyed towns and villages, hindering agriculture, health, and education, which are the most important factors in the life of every community.
The governor was sworn in on May 29th, 2019, with eyes fixed on him and the thought of how he would revive Yobe State, which is being abandoned due to severe insecurity and economic threats, along with the deterioration of agriculture and education, a state that seems to have no future prospects, a state that has been under a "state of emergency" on several times, with some parts of the state turning into a wasteland or a place where militants have tested weapons, as a result of burning down government schools, preventing the people of the state from going to farms and markets, destroying bridges that connecting villages and cities, and seizing control of some towns under the state.
After his swearing-in, he played a key role in consulting with experts and stakeholders in security matters to seek advice that would resolve the situation, consulting with traditional rulers and religious scholars so that, in his opinion, security would return to the areas of Yobe State and he would have full authority to carry out his duties in accordance with the policies that the people of the state would benefit from his government. Following these consultations and receiving advice from all sectors, his government succeeded in establishing a stable peace and curbing the majority of terrorist activities in less than half a year of his first term.
Following the return of peace, Governor Buni stood firm on his policies:
I. He started by declaring an emergency on education.
Under this emergency on education, Yobe State has achieved thousands of unprecedented achievements to date, which is celebrating its sixth anniversary, where towns such as Nguru, Gashua, Potiskum, Damaturu, Buni Yadi, and Geidam have survived with new model and mega primary and secondary schools with modern teaching methods that are considered to have achieved international standards (based on modern equipment and modern devices for modern learning).
He also established several government day secondary schools for girls, which were previously absent in various towns in Yobe State, and this has caused a serious setback in the education of girls and has thwarted the dreams of many parents to see their daughters complete formal education. Now, almost all 17 local government areas of Yobe State are equipped with such Day Schools for Girls, which have transformed the state’s education system and brought ease and change in the management of girls' education.
II. Revitalization of industries and development of businesses.
The governor has started by reviving old state-owned industries and laying the foundation for the creation of new industries and modern markets to boost the economy of Yobe State. The old industries he revived include Yobe Flour Mills Ltd., Polythene Company, Yobe Printing Press, and Aluminum Company in Potiskum Local Government Area. He has established new sesame processing companies in Machina, Damaturu, Potiskum, and Nguru.
He has also established modern markets with international standards in almost all the political zones of the state and has established the largest and most efficient trailer park in Africa in Potiskum Local Government Area. The towns that have benefited from modern markets include Yunusari, Potiskum, Damaturu, Geidam, Gashua, Nguru, and Ngalda.
III. Provision of roads connecting villages and cities to boost trade and economy of the state.
The governor also focused on revitalizing the state’s economy by providing rural residents with better access roads to Yobe’s cities for business and agricultural activities.
Under this initiative, he has linked several villages to cities by providing better transport links that will facilitate the movement of crops, livestock, and other commodities. The new roads include those to Tagali Town, Galu Town, Guna Town, Masaba Town, Balangua Town, Kumagannam Town, Chukuriwa Town, Ngalda Town, Toshia Town, Maluri Town, Daya Town, Ngojin Town, Gambir Town, Jajere Town, Gubana Town, and the main road linking Damaturu Local Government Area with Babban-gida, the Tarmowa local government area.
V. Improving health services/activities to improve the quality of life of the good people of Yobe State.
Yobe State is today the most health-efficient state in North-East Nigeria; the state stands out in Africa in some aspects of health.
Governor Buni has started by confirming his intention to create 178 active primary health care facilities, where each ward will have one active primary health care facility. Almost every district has witnessed this following the confirmation of his commitment to provide active primary health care across 17 LGAs of the state.
The governor has upgraded several primary health centers into general hospitals and converted several general hospitals to specialist hospitals, provided emergency ambulances, and provided free medication for 48 hours to all those who are taken by the ambulance to the nearest hospital, where they are called YODMABUS, and provided a free testing system and medication for pregnant women and young children.
Yobe State has also achieved the impact of having the largest and most efficient Maternity and Child Health Clinic in West Africa, built a large Department of Community Medicine at the College of Health Sciences, Yobe State University Damaturu, provided tricycle ambulances in every ward's primary healthcare to facilitate the transportation of patients, and provided free medical support to women and children across the state.
The governor has transformed many sectors, created jobs, and created new ministries and agencies, including the YoCHma Board, YoGis, YorMa, YoRota, YeMaBus, YoDma, Audit Board, Disability Board, Humanitarian Ministry, Livestock and Wealth Creation. His six years in office have been years of transformation in line with the goals of strengthening the lives of the people and ensuring the commitment and goals of strengthening the community.
Congratulations once again to H.E. Hon. Mai Mala Buni, FCIA, CON, COMN, the executive governor of Yobe State, for your 6th years anniversary.
