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Gov. Buni’s Long Stretch of Generosity
Gov. Buni’s Long Stretch of Generosity
By Umar Ali Kime
“The nourishment of the body is food, while the nourishment of the soul is feeding others” – Imam Ali Rahimullah.
The Executive Governor of Yobe state, Hon. Mai Mala Buni CON, has repeatedly said “there is no joy in wealth until and unless, someone benefits from it”. This corroborates the maxim which says “life is good when you are happy, but much better when others are happy because of you.”
There is no doubt that Gov. Buni has a special passion for making others happy, loved and dignified as clearly exemplified in his personal interactions, goodwills and gifts in cash, kind or both such that those meeting him for the first time are never in a haste to leave, while the familiar faces are already addicted to him.
Let me share my long cherished experience as a beneficiary of his generosity at a very youthful age. As classmates in our secondary school days, after the long vacation, my father was yet to return from his trip to Lagos and we were billed to return to school. It became naturally obvious for me that l will not join my mates to go back to school. The news of my predicament went viral and filtered into the ears of young Buni. He visited me at home and surrendered his transport and pocket money given to him by his father to return to school. The gesture was both unbelievable and scary. I could not take the money from this amateur philanthropist but he insisted and dropped the money only to go back home to tell his father what he did and requested for another transport and pocket money. This is a story l will live with for my entire life.
Today, it is an indisputable fact that His Excellency Governor Mai Mala Buni CON, has become a leading symbol of care, concern and support to orphans, indigent families, vulnerable groups, and People Living with Disabilities. It is therefore not surprising that his generosity has tremendously expanded to reach more people to satisfy his desire of assisting the less privileged persons in the society.
Just recently, at this crucial moment of economic hardship, Gov. Buni supported 1,000 orphans across the state with N50,000 each to enjoy the Ramadan season and also get new clothes for the Sallah festival for them to have a sense of belonging, love, and dignity.
He said the spirit of giving should be encouraged to go beyond the month of Ramadan. “The importance of such a kind gesture is that it promotes mutual respect and love, and in the same vein, eliminates hatred and envy. Above all, it earns us Allah’s Pleasure” .
Many orphans are today beneficiaries of government programmes with a special care given to them to pursue education at all levels.
“A very good percentage of orphans have been enrolled and sponsored by the State government to pursue education from primary schools up to tertiary level. Furthermore, many of them were enrolled in the Tsangaya Education System in the State” the Governor said.
When he assumed office as the governor of Yobe state in 2019, Governor Buni, visited YETIM orphanage care centre in Damaturu and increased its monthly running cost from N500,000 to N1 million.
He said that became necessary because, children orphaned by Boko Haram insurgency need the collective support by government, Non-Governmental Organizations and individuals, adding “the orphans are children to all of us, and we must give them a sense of belonging by catering for their needs, and that cannot be done by government alone, it’s a collective responsibility.”
It is gratifying that efforts are being made to provide widows and orphans in the state with empowerment packages for self-reliance, empowerment and employment generation. In 2023, the Yobe state government supported 400 widows and 200 orphans from across the 17 Local Government areas with start-up capital to promote self-reliance.
The effective performance by the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency in delivery of consumable and non consumable items to the targeted beneficiaries had been very impressive.
In Yobe state, the distribution of rice, Millet, Maize, Sorghum, Beans, beddings, soaps, and detergents among others has become a common sight. The free education and expanded free Healthcare Scheme has provided the orphans, the poor and vulnerable persons with opportunities to access education, and effective healthcare services in the state.
Governor Buni is personally sponsoring orphans, PLWD and other vulnerable persons in the Yobe State Contributory Healthcare system to access free medical services.
The construction of over 2,000 housing units has no doubt checked the housing deficit in Damaturu, the state capital, the 17 local government headquarters, and other major towns. The good news about this project is that widows and orphans, the vulnerable and People Living with Disabilities are all beneficiaries of the housing intervention. What is more? Governor Buni gave out the houses with a fifty percent (50%) subsidy. Meaning, the beneficiaries are ro pay only fifty percent of the houses. In recognition and appreciation of this incredible performance, the Africa Housing Award, conferred on the benevolent governor, the ‘Best Housing Friendly Governor’s award’ on Buni.
Under his watch, the state government through the Ministry of Wealth Creation, Empowerment and Employment Generation has empowered 68,000 widows, orphans, the indigent and People Living Disabilities with equipment and start-up capital worth over N1.3bn.
The provision of 100 Avensis cars worth over N461 million to professional drivers under the empowerment programme has definitely changed the status of the beneficiaries from drivers to proud car owners.
Governor Buni’s long stretch of goodwill has no doubt reached so many people from far and near, and impacted positively on their lives, with more opportunities to live a life with dignity.
Umar can be reached on kime1920@gmail.com
Gov. Buni’s Long Stretch of Generosity
News
Troops detect, detonate IED along Ngoshe–Pulka road in Borno
Troops detect, detonate IED along Ngoshe–Pulka road in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team of 82 Division Task Force Battalion have successfully detected and detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) along a major supply route in Gwoza LGA of Borno State.
Security sources said the device was discovered at about 9:42 a.m. on March 22 during a routine scan of the Main Supply Route (MSR) between PAPA 4 and PAPA 5 along the Ngoshe–Pulka road.

The IED, suspected to have been planted by terrorists to target troops and commuters, was safely recovered and detonated in situ by the EOD team without causing any casualties.
Military sources said the operation was part of ongoing counter-IED measures aimed at ensuring the safety of movement along critical routes in the North-East.
Residents and road users have been urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious objects or activities to security agencies for prompt action.
Troops detect, detonate IED along Ngoshe–Pulka road in Borno
News
ISWAP cleric threatens attack on Malam Fatori, after humiliating defeat, troops urged to remain alert
ISWAP cleric threatens attack on Malam Fatori, after humiliating defeat, troops urged to remain alert
By: Zagazola Makama
A suspected ISWAP cleric has issued threats of a possible attack on Malam Fatori following the recent neutralization of 75 terrorists in a failed attack on March 18 2026.
According to intelligence sources, the cleric, who reportedly led this year Eid Fitr prayers in a location near Sabon Tumbu, warned during his sermon that the group would soon retaliate against Nigerian troops for operations carried out in Malam Fatori.
The source said the cleric specifically threatened that the town could be “reduced to ashes” in a reprisal attack, stressing that such statements by insurgents should not be dismissed as mere rhetoric.
Sources noted that past experiences have shown that insurgent groups often act on their threats, urging troops deployed in Malam Fatori to remain on high alert and adequately equipped to counter any potential assault.
They also warned that the insurgents could deploy heavy firepower and adopt tactics such as coordinated assaults and the use of vehicle-borne explosive devices in any attempted attack.
Malam Fatori has for long been described as the town as a long-standing stronghold of military resistance against terrorist elements. The town has, over the years, witnessed decisive military victories against ISWAP fighters, nick named the “Grave Yard of ISWAP” and earning a REPUTATION as a difficult terrain for insurgents to operate.
The troops of the Armed Forces, supported by other security agencies, remain on high alert and have continued to fortify defensive positions in anticipation of any attempted incursion.
According to the sources, intelligence and surveillance have been intensified, while logistics and operational readiness have been enhanced to ensure that any threat is decisively neutralised.
“Experience has shown that insurgents often suffer heavy losses whenever they attempt to attack well-defended positions like Malam Fatori,” the source said.
ISWAP cleric threatens attack on Malam Fatori, after humiliating defeat, troops urged to remain alert
News
Baban Chinedu says Pastor Ezekiel Dachomo is a former Armed robber now turned crises entrepreneur
Baban Chinedu says Pastor Ezekiel Dachomo is a former Armed robber now turned crises entrepreneur
By: Zagazola Makama
Sheikh Yusuf Haruna Baban Chinedu, popularly known as Baban Chinedu, has launched a scathing and evidence-based attack on controversial Plateau pastor Ezekiel Dachomo in a viral video, accusing him of being a former armed robber and a liar who fabricated stories about meeting Jesus after a 1980 bank robbery in Jos.
Baban Chinedu declared: “Ezekiel Dachomo isn’t just someone seen in a photo with a bandit; no, he is the bandit! … Ezekiel committed armed robbery. We have records on him from 1976, from ’76 to sometime after 2000. … This man is a hardened armed robber.”
He played a clip of Dachomo admitting: “Because I went in 1980 is our gang that robbed a bank in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. 1980, they make away with a lot of money. It was my best friend that led the operation.” Baban Chinedu challenged: “Praise be to God, I hope you all heard the statement this man made. … He is lying! I want you to listen and know that first of all, this man is a complete hypocrite and a total liar. I swear, it was a gun that shot them! Angels? He claims Jesus came down with seven angels who struck them and killed fourteen people while he hid in the blood? You see, even the angels God sent down… only managed to kill fourteen people and lost track of where that one man was?”
The sheikh alleged Dachomo hid among corpses and was rescued by a gang member named Emmanuel, not Jesus: “He was begging Jesus for God’s sake to forgive him and spare his life. He claims that was where he met Jesus… By Allah, he is lying! … It was a gun that shot them! No Jesus descended there; he is lying to you.” He added: “A lady told me; she heard him when he was shot, and he still has the scar from that wound on his left side. … He is lying! At that time, it was the police, Nigerian security agents, Nigeria Police MOPOL who she said shot them.”
Baban Chinedu accused Dachomo of transitioning from “practical, street-level bandit” to “spiritual bandit” and inciting religious conflict: “The armed bandits of the past are the ones who transformed into these kidnappers. … All those who are making these plans are your boys… You’re insulting her religion, she told us the truth about everything that happened… You are a robber, and the government should investigate you; you’re behind all of this.”
He challenged Dachomo to court: “Ezekiel, I, Yusuf Haruna Baban Chinedu, challenge you: if you know there’s any falsehood in what’s being said about you, take it to court.” The sheikh demanded investigation: “We want the government if possible to investigate this man, I swear to God he’s an armed robber… By Allah, the government should know that Ezekiel is involved in this. Let him tell you the names of those he robbed with.”
The viral video has ignited fierce online reactions, with many praising Baban Chinedu’s evidence-based approach while others condemn the personal attacks on Dachomo, intensifying Nigeria’s ongoing religious and ethnic tensions occasioned by US recent remarks on Christians genocide propaganda. Watch the video in the comment section.
Baban Chinedu says Pastor Ezekiel Dachomo is a former Armed robber now turned crises entrepreneur
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