Profile
Mai Mala Buni is the present Governor of Yobe State, elected in 2019 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress. He is also the Caretaker Chairman of the political party. Between 2014 and 2019, he served as the National Secretary of All Progressives Congress.
Personal Life
He was born on 19th November 1967 in Buni Yadi, Gujba Local Government Area, Yobe State. He is a Muslim. Mala Buni has four wives; he got married to his third wife, Ummi Adama Gaidam, a day after he took the oath of office as the Executive Governor of Yobe State. Ummi Adama is the daughter of the immediate-past governor of Yobe State, Ibrahim Gaidam. In 2021, he got married to his fourth wife, Gumsu Sani Abacha, one of the daughters of the late General Sani Abacha.
Education
| School | Qualification | Year |
| Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, United Kingdom | MA International Relations | |
| College of Vocational Science and Technology, | Diploma | 2012 |
| Espan Formation University, Benin, Edo State | BSc. International Relations | 2010-2014 |
| Government Secondary School, Goniri, Yobe State | West African Senior Secondary Certificate | 1979-1985 |
| Buni-Gari Central Primary School, Yobe State | First School Leaving Certificate | 1973-1979 |
Work History
| Place | Position | Date |
| Nigeria Shippers’ Council | Chairman | 2018 |
| University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State | Member, Governing Council | 2004 |
| First Integrated and Logistics Services Ltd | Chairman | |
| Rehab Synergy Nig. Ltd | Chairman | |
| Subi Mega Global Solutions Ltd | Chairman | |
| Bright View Capital Alliance Ltd | Chairman | |
| Buni Gari and Company Nig. Ltd | Chairman | |
| MBG Construction and General Services Ltd | Chairman | |
| MMB Petroleum and Chemical Company Nig. Ltd | Chairman | |
| MBG Integrated Farms Ltd | Chairman |
Buni Yadi, Gujba LGA, Yobe State.
19th November 1967
Yobe State
All Progressives Congress
Islam
National Secretary of All Progressives Congress (2014-2019)
Governor, Yobe State (since 2019)
Caretaker Chairman, All Progressives Congress (since 2020)
Political History
Buni’s political journey began in 1991 when he contested to represent Buni ward in the Gujba Local Government Council, on the platform of the National Republic Convention (NRC). He was successful in his pursuit and was subsequently elected as the Speaker of the Council.
In 2000, he became a Senior Legislative Assistant in Nigeria’s National Assembly. In March 2006, Buni was unanimously elected Chairman of the Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD) in Yobe state. In September 2006, when members of the newly formed Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the state entered into an alliance with the Advanced Congress of Democrats to form a formidable force on the platform of Action Congress, the alliance elected Buni unopposed as the Yobe State Chairman of Action Congress. Buni served in this capacity between 2006 and 2010.
In 2009, he was the Senior Special Assistant to the Yobe State Governor, Ibrahim Gaidam, on Inter-Party Affairs. He held this position until 2011, when he joined the then ruling party in the state, All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and was appointed the Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Affairs and Legislative Matters, by Ibrahim Gaidam.
In 2013, following the merger of mega political parties to form the All Progressives Congress, Buni became the Protem Secretary of the party in Yobe State. Subsequently, in 2014, he was elected the pioneer Yobe State Chairman of APC. A few months after this, he was elected the first National Secretary of All Progressives Congress. He was re-elected to the office in 2018.
While serving in the capacity of APC National Secretary, Buni was nominated and elected as the flag bearer of APC for the 2019 Yobe State gubernatorial election. He was elected as the fourth Executive Governor of Yobe State, polling a total of 444,013 votes to defeat his PDP opponent, who got 95,703 votes.
In June 2020, the national working committee of the All Progressive Congress was dissolved and in its place, a new interim committee was inaugurated. This committee is chaired by Mai Mala Buni, making him the Chairman of APC’s caretaker committee and extraordinary national convention.
He will be contesting to retain his current position as the governor of Yobe State in the 2023 election.
Leadership Style/Philosophy
Awards & Honours
- 2021 Politician of the Year by the Nigerian News
- 2021 Politician of the Year Award by Leadership Newspaper
- 2021 Excellence on Youth Development Award by the Young Nigerian Innovators
- 2020 Best Youth Friendly Governor Award by the Arewa Youth Council
- 2020 Political Icon of the Year Award by the Sun Newspaper
- 2020 National Politician of the Year Award by Leadership Newspaper
- 2018 Award of Excellence by the Coalition of Women in Politics in Yobe State
- Fellow, Institute of Corporate Administration
- Distinguished Fellow, College of Vocational Science and Technology of Nigeria
Project
- Attracted VELVOT, a Dubai-based ICT company to train 100 Yobe state youths on various ICT courses
- Resuscitation of the Potiskum Flour Mills and Yobe Women Sacks Factory
- Construction of 3600 housing units across the 17 local government areas of the state
- Building a modern trailer transit park in Potiskum Town
- Construction of a ₦2.8 million ultra-modern market in Damaturu, ₦2.6 billion modern markets in Potiskum, ₦2.6 billion modern market in Nguru and ₦2.4 billion modern markets in Gashu’a.
- Construction of a ₦1.6 billion Maternal, New-born and Child Healthcare Complex at the Yobe State University Teaching Hospital
- Training of 680 youths from the 17 local government areas of the state on paint production
- Establishment of Yobe State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency and the Yobe State Drugs and Medical Consumables Management Agency
- Construction of 7 model primary schools in various locations in Yobe State
- Partnered with African Development Bank to distribute livelihood support packages to over 5,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)
- Facilitated the return of many IDPs by reconstructing their houses
Criticism/Controversy
In 2022, some aggrieved members of APC filed a suit against APC’s planned February 2022 national convention, as well as the leadership of Mai Mala Buni as the Caretaker Chairman of the party. The suit was filed on the grounds that state congresses were yet to be completed in all 36 states of the country. Similarly, in December 2021, APC youth leader, Zahrah Audu, also sued Buni, urging the Federal High Court of Abuka to restrain Buni from holding the position as the Caretaker Chairman of the party, on the basis that Buni’s governorship office prevents him from adequately carrying out his role as the Caretaker Chairman. Members of the People’s Democratic Party took up this issue with the High Court, arguing that combining the governor’s office with another executive position is a constitutional violation.
In 2021, Buni was enmeshed in a multi-billion naira asset declaration scandal at the Code of Conduct Bureau. According to reports, he allegedly acquired 25 different buildings in several locations valued at ₦3.1 billion, during his time as National Secretary of APC. Also, he is alleged to have ₦2 billion stashed in 11 bank accounts.
