Analysing Dividend Of Democracy In Yobe

By Abba Dukawa

Yobe State helmsman Governor Mai Mala Buni would end his first term in office in few days to come as the country constitution allowed.

Therefore on Monday Yobe governor will be swear in to begin his final term in office.

Within last four years of his first term in office Buni’s administration monumental achievements ring loud and louder each passed days since came to power in 2015. He proved to be a personification of humanity, a selfless leader and an uncommon Governor, who thinks more about his peoples feelings than of his own.

Governor has demonstrated his true passion for issues concerning peoples and state as a whole; he worked passionately to address matters of great concern to the Yobeans and quickly earned a reputation as a true people’s governor, hard-working and people’s governor.

Based on the purpose for the administration to achieve its far-reaching policies and programmes in making the state realise its full potentials to greatness through the good policy and consolidation of achievements recorded within four year years of administration in power is recommended.

It is worthy to note that Buni’s administration pursue every opportunity with high sense of responsibility in ensuring electorate lives has been improve as the administration prevailing interest of the masses should not be sacrificed either on the altar of political expediency or in pursuit of a narrow selfish agenda of those who operate the levers of authority.

In the last four years he had devoted his life to the service of his people and excelled in changing the fortune of the state to betterment in spite lean resources and the economic realities, was able to do more with less.

Apart from governing the state, he was discharged with the additional responsibilities assigned to him by the ruling governing party to resolve internal conflicts and reposition the party.

His led CECPC made unprecedented achievements in reposition the party with attracting three serving state governors from Zamfara, Cross River and Ebonyi and other top notches politicians from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the party. Amidst doubts and speculation of plot of tenure elongation of the APC caretaker members Buni’s led All Progressives Congress Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee conducted transparent, rancour-free National Convention.

CECPC Succeeded in complete work on the party’s national secretariat in Abuja as well as settling outstanding payment for the building.

One may recalls that he began his first term in office with a declaration of ‘emergency’ in the education sector. The administration held educational development summit with stakeholders in primary and secondary education gathered to proffer solutions to the emergency declared on the sector in the state. The summit birthed a working committee called the ‘Technical Committee to Revitalize Basic and Secondary Education’, which was charged with the responsibility of materializing the lofty recommendations of the education summit.

To sustained the success of the education summit, after the studied the report, Governor Buni instructed for recruitment of qualified teachers, establishment of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education schools. Audit of teachers across the state to ascertain their competencies and determine those who need training, re-training or even deployment to other sectors as appropriate. Yobe State under him witnessed an outstanding improvement of standard of education in the state, boosting school enrollment, as well as providing the educational infrastructure that across Yobe state educationally.

The administration embarked on the construction of model schools in the major towns of the state; Buni Yadi, Damaturu, Gashua, Potiskum and Nguru. Each school has 30 classrooms and computer centres. These schools were aimed at decongesting classrooms and encouraging schools enrollment. At the end, these schools will also address the number out-of-school children and ensure that no child is left out of school. Buni’s administration emphasis on education already making impact with improvement in the overall performance of Yobe state in WAEC/NECO.

On youth empowerment state drive in the various empowerment packages has speed up the state post-insurgency recovery and wealth creation for stability and prosperity. This drive it is in conformity of teaching the people “how to catch fish” rather than making them depend on a “fish handout” Administration empowerment is largely to support small scale businesses and small business individuals. giving empowerment support to the people of Yobe State is an integral part of Governor Mai Mala Buni’s administration socio economic agenda.

In the last four years, the state has executed several empowerment and skill acquisition projects to fast-track government recovery programme, enhance sustainable means of livelihood and the general economic advancement of people and Yobe state.

In some days ago Governor Buni has distributing 1,900 irrigation water pumps and accessories, 125 commercial pick-up Tricycles also known as JEGA and 125 commercial tricycles or KEkE NAPEP. About 500 youths from rural communities would be empowered and supported with skill-acquisition materials such as sewing machines, barbing saloon kits, pasta-making machines and hairdressing materials.

Earlier this year’s the administration has procured 100 units of Toyota ‘Avensis’ cars at a total cost of N461, 125,000.00 to be offered on loan to 100 beneficiaries at a subsidized rate of N2 million each payable within a 2-year duration.

in addition with humanitarian gesture of the present administration in the state, government has distributed sewing, grinding and vulcanizing machines, among others to the less privileged to improve their livelihood. Also gave cash support to 400 widows, 254 vulnerable persons and 1600 small and medium-scale businessmen and women.

To boost business and industries in the state, the administration
reviving state-owned companies aimed at creating jobs and give incentives for investment in Yobe state.

The resuscitated Yobe Polythene and woven sacks industry in Damaturu is now producing over 7,500 sacks daily. Yobe flour mills Potiskum now has the highest production in state. Sahel Aluminum company in Potiskum is now empowered and it is operating at full capacity. Yobe State Fertilizer Blending Company is currently being resuscitated, with expansion that will enable it operate in full capacity. Toward achieving Socioeconomic Blueprints of his administration in the state, Hon Buni wooing local and international investors toward invest in state deposits natural minerals and also met representative Qatari investors from the office of Sheikh Saoud Bin Nasser Bin Khalid al-Thani aimed at exploring an investing to set up a cement company and meat processing factory in Yobe State.

On road reconstruction Yobe has witness unprecedented infrastructural development, since the administration came to power in 2015 the administration constructed New Township Roads, Housing, Modern Markets in major towns and provide befitting Trailer Park in Potiskum and complete projects inherited from the former administration.
has constructed road with concrete drainages in Damagum, Fune LGA, in Buni Yadi, Gujba LGA, in Malammatari of Damaturu, in Jajimaji, Karasuwa LGA in Babban gida, Tarmuwa LGA. Similar projects are exacuted in other towns, including Potiskum and Geidam; mention few. All these roads construction are part of administration recovery drive to rebuild communities, promote economic activities and to reclaim means of livelihood to our people.

Buni’s administration succeeded in initiating reforms that helped revamp the sector. The administration established Yobe State Contributory Health Care Management Agency (YSCHMA) and the Yobe State Drugs Consumable Agency (YODMA). The Agency already changing the face of financing healthcare – to end out-of-pocket healthcare expenses and ensure that all; in the formal and informal sector can afford healthcare.

Buni’s Upgraded four general hospitals of Potiskum, Gashu’a, Geidam, and Buni-Yadi to specialists’ hospitals. Similarly,
administration had constructed and upgraded a total of 138 out of 178 Primary Healthcare Centers in all the political wards of the state.

The administration of had also sponsored over 400 doctors for undergraduate training, as well as 60 doctors for post-graduate training. The administration had offered automatic employment to all indigenous medical doctors and over 30 professionals from other parts of Nigeria were absorbed as 300 nurses and midwives. Employed 25 pharmacists, five expatriate doctors, and consultants, among others.

On maintaining peace and security in Yobe. The state had its own bitter taste of the Boko Haram insurgency and other related security breaches the administration has left no stone untouched in it concerted efforts to combat insecurity in the state. It would be recalled that Yobe state governor, Mai Mala Buni has visited all the Service Chiefs and other Head Of Security Agencies toward finding lasting solutions in ensuring peace and security across the state being restore. In the last years, the Yobe state government has provided over hundred of vehicles as logistics support to the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air force, Nigerian police, and other security agencies.

Dukawa write in from Kano, can be reached at abbahydukawa@gmail.com