By Dr. ABDULRAHMAN DANAZUMI
I recently noticed some articles from the champions of junk journalism, Sahara reporters where they focus on His excellency the executive governor of yobe state, Honourable Mai Mala Buni in their routine ‘guess and publish’ journalism.
Sometimes, one wonders if Sahara reporters do not have editorials due to the amount of baseless stories and fake news they concoct and publish.
What I find most surprising among others was the ridiculous allegation that the governor spends 80% of his time in Abuja while schools are deteriorating in Yobe state and that the governor is owing retired civil servants in the state gratuities running in to billions of naira. That is not only a lie but absurd misinformation. To debunk those hysterical allegations, let me take you through the FACTS.
Governor Mai Mala declared state of emergency to the Yobe state education sector during his inaugural speech. Since then, he constituted a committee that has already submitted a comprehensive report on the problem and solution to the state education challenges. The committee was headed by a reputable acada, former vice chancellor of the University of Maiduguri, Professor Mala Daura. To showcase his statement of intent, the governor is constructing seven (7) model schools across the Local governments. The state is also renovating many schools destroyed by Boko haram in Damaturu and Gujba. The state under his leadership sponsors 228 indigenes for overseas undergraduate and postgraduate studies. Other efforts include placing 44 veterinary students on the state’s payroll, doubling the monthly allowance of the state students of basic nursing and midwifery, sponsoring 69 indigenes to law school and payment of Council exams fees for 42 graduates of Human medicine and surgery. These are few of the many efforts the governor is putting to revive the education sector in the state.
On retired civil servants benefits, the state government under the leadership of Honorable Mai Mala Buni cleared a total of One thousand one hundred and four (1104) retired civil servants from June 2019 to April 2020, a totaled more than one (1) billion naira. Mai Mala did this in less than one year in office. If anything, it shows his desire and commitment to give every retiree his right.
Furthermore, Governor Buni is one of the first governors to implement the new 30,000 Naira national minimum wage. This is testament to his welfare of Civil Servants
Governor Mai Mala’s focus is not only on education and Civil servants, He is very much busy looking for ways to provide jobs and opportunities to the unemployed youths in the state. Within 6 months of office assumption, he resuscitated three (3) industries in the state, The Yobe state Flour mill in Potiskum, The Yobe state polythene and wooven sack company in Damturu and the Yobe state Aluminium company also in Damaturu.
Demonstrating his commitment to diversifying the economy, the governor has began construction of ultra modern markets in Damaturu, Gashuwa and Potiskum. The Damaturu Ultra modern market is almost 50% completion. The construction is providing jobs to many. Upon completion, the shops in these 3 Markets will be given to the less priviledged which will in turn provide more jobs and encourage production in the state.
The Yobe State Government under His excellency Governor Mai Mala Buni has also Trained 680 youths on paint production within months of coming to office, the youths were given capital necessary to start their business. This is to encourage entrepreneurship among youths in the state.
Governor Mai Mala Buni has also shown he is a compassionate leader, under his able leadership, The Yobe state government through the State emergency management agency (SEMA) has provided not less than 140,000 Vulnerable households with food items and necessary support and relief materials across the 17 local Governments and more efforts are been put in place during this Covid_19 pandemic to ease the suffering of people in the state.
In conclusion, One can not mention all the executive Governor has done in less than one year in office but I can say this to the champions of junk journalism; Facts don’t care about your emotions. The projects and achievements are there to see and no amount of snare campaign can change that.
If spending time in Abuja means more of these projects, Governor Buni can take the Yobe state Government house back there, I don’t care.