A TRIBUTE TO A TRANSFORMATIVE LEADER: HON. (DR.) MAI MALA BUNI — A SYMBOL OF HOPE, VISION, AND PEACE

By Ibrahim Umar Ibrahim
(Associate Member Institute of Data Processing Management)

Can be reached via uibrahim231@gmail.com or 08068644338

In the heart of Nigeria’s northeast, where resilience has long been a companion and progress a hard-earned reward, a name now echoes with reverence — Hon. Mai Mala Buni. As he recently marks six impactful years as Governor of Yobe State, we rise not only to celebrate an anniversary of leadership, but to honor a man whose stewardship has become a beacon of hope and transformation.

If it is true, as many say, that “skills matter more than just a degree,” then the honorary Doctor of Public Administration conferred upon Governor Buni by the prestigious Federal University Gashua is more than well-deserved — it is destiny fulfilled. It is as though the title was long reserved for him, waiting to crown a man who has shown extraordinary wisdom, foresight, and human understanding far beyond academic halls.

From his early days as APC’s National Secretary to his pivotal role as the National Caretaker Committee Chairman, Governor Buni has carried himself with quiet dignity and deliberate calm. I recall vividly when he took the national stage and said:

“As a two-term National Secretary, I know this party well. It is all about doing justice to every member. Without justice, there can be no peace. And if you do not manage crisis, crisis will manage you.”

Those words weren’t just politically wise — they were prophetic. They set him apart. They revealed the essence of a leader molded not just by experience, but by empathy.

During the COVID-19 outbreak, while many states locked down completely, bringing hardship to ordinary people, Governor Buni chose a different path. With calm assurance, he kept markets open, understanding the delicate balance between safety and survival. His leadership was rooted in compassion.

I remember when certain youths were detained by overzealous government officials for insulting Dr. Limanin Sulhu, his reaction was swift and fatherly. Upon hearing of the incident, he didn’t just order their release — he gave them financial support, stating that “opposition is the salt of politics.” That wasn’t just magnanimity; it was a masterclass in leadership.

This is why many across Africa now refer to him as the Limanin Sulhu meaning “Imam of Reconciliation.” He is a rare breed of leader who blends autocratic decisiveness with democratic openness, a practitioner of both situational and laissez-faire leadership when the occasion demands. He is, perhaps, the only governor in Nigeria embodying all four classical leadership styles — and doing so with grace.

But what is leadership without impact?

In just six years, Governor Buni has reshaped the face of Yobe. Under his leadership, the state ranked 1st nationwide in Primary Healthcare delivery in 2024, and 1st in the Northeast zone in 2025. This wasn’t by chance. It was the result of strategic, people-focused investment — building 142 fully equipped Primary Health Centres, recruiting over 2,000 health personnel, and establishing new general hospitals in Jajimaji, Nguru, Yusufari, Babbangida, and Bara.

From Damaturu to Gashua, from Potiskum to Buni Yadi — tractors were not just promised, they were delivered. Fertilizers reached farmers on time. Roads were not just awarded, they were constructed. Markets weren’t merely drawn on paper, they now thrive with life in Yunusari, Geidam, Nguru, Potiskum, Damaturu, Gashua,Ngalda,Machina and beyond.

Industries once thought dead are now revived — the Flour Mill, Aluminum Company, Pre-stressed concrete poles, and Yobe Polythene and Wooven Sacks Factory now hum with renewed purpose. Governor Buni is not only building roads and schools; he is building dignity, access, and opportunity.

Let us not forget the youth. Thousands have received skill acquisition tools. Many were sponsored for studies in India. Countless others were employed, and many more empowered with grants and support for entrepreneurship. He understands that the soul of tomorrow lies in the strength of today’s youth.

In the education sector, he built and renovated dozens of Model and Mega Schools across the state — from Buni Yadi to Gashua, Damaturu to Potiskum among others . In tertiary education, he transformed campuses and invested in infrastructure at COEGA,CAMTECH Geidam Polytechnic, Yobe State University, and Nursing and Health Institutions.

Under his watch, Yobe now has a female dignity center, baby care centers, diagnostic laboratories, physiotherapy centers, and a molecular testing facility — all in Damaturu and Gashua. His administration distributed tricycle ambulances, new city buses, mechanic workshops, and even about to construct the first ever fly over and under pass bridge in the heart of the State Capital and also revitalizing the city roundabouts to give Damaturu a fresh, modern look.

Governor Buni didn’t stop there. He created new institutions — YOCHMA, YOGIS, YORMA, YOMABUS, YODMA, YITDA,YOGIS,YAPPIP and more — agencies tailored to serve real human needs. He brought electricity to hundreds of rural communities, housing projects to all 17 local governments, and built the largest Merternity in Nigeria.

And then, there is the road network. From Babbangida to Daya, Jajere to Gambir, Maluri to Gubana, his asphalt has become the metaphor for progress. Every kilometer paved is a step closer to development, connection, and inclusion.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is no ordinary leader. This is a statesman whose heart beats in sync with the pulse of his people. His story is our story. His success is Yobe’s pride.

Today, as we salute His Excellency, Hon. (Dr.) Mai Mala Buni, we do so with tears of joy, hearts full of gratitude, and spirits lifted by the belief that leadership, when guided by humility and vision, can indeed change lives.

From the fertile farmlands to the urban corridors of Damaturu, the people of Yobe do not just see a governor — we see a guardian, a builder, a reconciler, and above all, a servant of the people.

Congratulations, Your Excellency. Your legacy is already written in the hearts of your people.

May your light shine even brighter.