Gov. Buni: The Master Class Result Oriented Political Strategist

Gov Buni: The Master Class Result Oriented Political Strategist

By Mamman Mohammed

He always wears a captivating and contagious smile, with a handshake that gives you a double assurance that you are welcome. He listens attentively and does not interrupt until you make your point clear and conclude before he responds with carefully measured and kind words.

This sense of humility and respect for everyone irrespective of one’s position on the social strata ladder, attracts the gentleman Governor of Yobe State, Hon. (Dr.) Mai Mala Buni CON COMN, to both the young and old, rich and poor, leaders and followers alike.

It is said, “Experience is the best teacher”. This maxim has clearly and empirically manifests in the political life of Governor Mai Mala Buni. He plays politics with humility, respect, patience and accommodation of all views. Disrespecting people and other views is far from his character. This has over the years made him visible and attractive for high profile and sensitive political assignments.

From the humble beginning as a local government councillor, Buni rose to become a master class political strategist, a fantastic and dynamic mobilizer, and the indisputable ‘Limamin Sulhu’ ( Champion of reconciliation) between sworn political enemies.

He rose through the ranks to attain political offices and positions unsolicitedly. It has always been a beacon to serve from the councillorship through Political Adviser, State party Chairman, National Secretary, National Chairman and of course, the state Governor. It has always been at the instance of the people.

As a political adviser to the then Yobe State Governor, Sen. Ibrahim Gaidam, the planning and execution of his governorship election campaign was executed with a high profile precision. As the first substantive National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), his office was central to the strategies to dislodge PDP and President Jonathan. The office of the secretary was the engine room of the party, assembling ideas, fixing the strategies, and providing the administrative drive to oust the then ruling PDP and the sitting government, and to transforming APC from opposition political party to a ruling political party. And eventually, Late Muhammadu Buhari emerged as Nigeria’s President.

In 2022, when APC was heading towards imminent collapse, the National Executive Committee of the party appointed Buni as the Chairman of the caretaker committee. Under his stewardship, the party recorded the defection of three serving governors, serving and former Senators, Ministers, party chairmen and other party officials from PDP to APC.

Under his stewardship, the party carried out the first ever membership registration and revalidation exercise, and paid off to acquire the APC national Secretariat which was named Buhari House, making the party the only political party to own a permanent Secretariat. He laid a solid foundation for subsequent leaders to improve on the achievements recorded under his leadership.

In recognition and appreciation of his reconciliation prowess, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, last year appointed Buni as Chairman of the Committee on Strategy, Conflict Resolution and Mobilisation to resolve conflicts within the All Progressives Congress as it approaches the 2027 general elections.

The committee has Senator Adamu Aliero, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum and Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman AbduRazak, Chairman of Progressive Governors Forum and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, Governors Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Bassey Otu(Cross River), Abiodun Oyebanji (Ekiti) and Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta) as members.

Others include Governors Uba Sani (Kaduna), Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers), Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, the Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Alhaji Ibrahim Masari and Barrister Muiz Banire, former APC Legal Adviser, as Secretary.

Governor Buni assured President Tinubu that the assignment would be executed with utmost sense of responsibility and dedication “The committee will engage in strategic engagements and consultations to develop an all-encompassing, productive and result-oriented strategy that will stand the test of time. We shall implement a system that gives everyone, especially aggrieved parties, a sense of belonging and inclusion, with a renewed hope”.

And just recently, at the reception in Yola marking the defection of the Adamawa state Governor, Umar Ahmadu Fintiri, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), His Excellency the Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima GCON, while introducing Governor Buni in Hausa, said “Wannan yayanmu ne, Gomnan Jihar Yobe, babban dan Siyasa ne, Ya iya Siyasa” meaning this is our elder brother, the Governor of Yobe state, Mai Mala Buni, he is a political Maverick. He knows the game of politics very well.

Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, the APC National Chairman, while announcing the constitution of the 2026 National convention committee, he named Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, former Speaker House of Representatives as Chairman, Anyim Pius Anyim as Co-Chairman, Mai Mala Buni as Secretary and others as members of the committee. The news was received with fanfare, wide and generally acceptable.

Nentawe at the inauguration of the convention committee, said in view of the carefully selected chairman and members of the committee, he had every confidence that the committee would organise the best ever and most successful national convention ever seen in Nigeria.

Masari, in his inaugural address said “My assignment as chairman of this committee is made simple having His Excellency, Governor Mai Mala Buni, as Secretary of the committee. He is an encyclopedia of political party administration”.

Barrister Ismaila Ahmed, the vibrant youth leader, said Governor Buni commands institutional memory of the party, and is a great asset to the All Progressives Congress.

As a team player, Buni built institutional trust among all members of the committee. The execution of every task was carried out meticulously under the supervision of the Chairman Masari, Co-Chairman Ayim Pius Ayim and indeed, the Secretary, Mai Mala Buni.

Governor Buni’s endowments of humility, patience, accommodation and generosity makes him unique. He never ask for assignments but, it has always been a beacon to serve that ends successfully with excellent results.