All eyes are now on Mai Mala Buni to consolidate on the achievements of Gaidam and equally expand the frontiers of development in Yobe State. The state had its own bitter taste of the Boko Haram insurgency, which practically stalled development in areas that have direct impact on human capital development indices.
Even with these mountainous challenges, former Governor Gaidam has performed greatly in provision of infrastructure and social services ranging from health care delivery to schools, roads, agriculture and building the confidence of the citizenry in the government.
According to Albert, the purpose of human life is to serve and to show compassion and the will that will help others.
Described by most people as gentle, generous, humble, trustworthy, extremely loyal and down-to-earth, Gaidam no doubt, displayed high and esteemed leadership qualities which endeared to the people of the state.
He has made exceptional strides in special intervention in the areas of education, health, agriculture, and women/youth empowerment among others.
Indeed, he perfectly fitted into the postulation by John C Maxwell when he said: “Success knows your purpose in life, growing maximum potential and sowing seeds that will benefit others.”
Based on the purpose of the administration to achieve great tasks, it needs to implement far-reaching policies and programmes toward making the state to realise its full potentials to greatness through the policy of continuity and consolidation of legacies or achievements recorded by the former administration.
Governor Mala reiterated his administration readiness to explore and exploit new avenues and opportunities locally, nationally and internationally, to improve and expand the existing structured policies and programmes for delivering maximum dividends of democracy to the people.
In his inaugural speech, Governor Mala unveiled his administration’s readiness to partner with North East Development Commission, local and international humanitarian organizations toward the implementation of his ambitious Resettlement, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation (R3), for the people affected by insurgency to live a life of honor and dignity. He also proffers to create employment opportunities to stimulate the economy for improved revenue generation and industrialize the state for the greater wealth creation.
The state’s economy is largely dependent on the federal allocation with very low Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), however Governor Buni is set to change this trend of the state dependency on the monthly federal allocation because the state is blessed with economic trees and massively housed by plants such as sesame seeds; while the product is in high industrial demand for pharmaceuticals and confectionary use in Europe, America, Middle East and Asia.
To support his vision for making the state economically improved, the governor sees it deem to exploit the state solid mineral potentials and its rich agricultural lands which can turn around its economic fortunes for better.
If the administration puts to use the state numerous solid mineral deposits that are in commercial quantities which were being verified of high quality including Limestone, Kaolin, and Gypsum among others, this vision can turn around the economic fortunes of the state, which has huge potential.
Livestock farmers would be supported and provided with incentives to boost production accordingly. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s record shows there is estimated livestock population of three million goats being the highest in the country with over 2.7 million herds of cattle and 2.1 million sheep. Farmers in the state are also not left behind as the administration is set to provide tractors to farmers at the beginning of every rainy season across the 17 local government areas of the state.
To achieve his economic and human development, Buni assured people of the state that his administration would intensify efforts to put into better economic use by reviving and putting back to production of the government-owned companies like, Gujba Fertiliser Blending Plant, Polythene, Woven Sacks Factory, and the Yobe Flour and Feed Mills and the Sahel Aluminium Company in order to create employment opportunities and boost internal revenue.
Already the governor has directed the State Ministry of Commerce and Investment to undertake comprehensive analyses and submit report on what might be needed to revive, resuscitate or replace and upgrade the equipments in these respective companies.
On infrastructural development, Buni is posed to construct new roads, among others and set to construct modern markets in major towns and provide befitting trailer park in Potiskum and some other towns and guaranteeing peoples of the state to complete all projects inherited from the former administration.
His administration also pledged to provide one healthcare centre in each of the 178 political wards in the state, and considered it necessary to upgrade the capacities of health institutions in the state by providing state-of-the-art medical facilities and equipments to provide the best services to the people. All these will enhance healthcare delivery to the people of the state.
In his efforts to align his manifesto, campaign promises and the vision and mission outlined, a committee will be formed to set out implementation priorities and strategies in the short, medium and long term basis covering each sector for government intervention after proper assessment.
It is worthy to note that Buni’s administration will pursue every opportunity with high sense of responsibility to ensure that what rightly belongs to the state in terms of appointments, projects and programmes are given to it.
According to him, the administration would partner with our national legislators to pursue their entitlements with vigour vis-à-vis pledging that the state’s quota in federal appointments are fully accessed and occupied by his people while vivacious desk officers would be established at the Abuja Liaison Office to monitor and pursue their dues and entitlements.
He affirms that the era of short changing the state is over.
Dukawa public affairs commentator, can be reached at abbahydukawa@gmail.com