It’s, indeed, one of the qualities of a leader to embrace indifferences, ending the blame game and eschew bitterness and of course being tolerance, there’s no doubt to this assertion that this is what the Governor of Yobe state, Mai Mala Buni, is doing to silence his critics.
If you could recall, in his inaugural speech, the governor stated that his administration will run an all-inclusive government, with an open door policy for everyone with meaningful contributions to make in the interest of the state, stressing that his government will have listening ears to worthy advices and suggestions that will promote unity and people’s interest.
Gov. Buni added that there will be no room for distractions or diversions and other sentiments or promotion of personal interest against the collective interest of the people of Yobe.
And as for me, I see a critic as the voice in your head telling you what you’ve done wrong. Sometimes it can help you avoid bad decisions. The good news is that you have complete control over your inner critic and as a leader, not everyone is going to like every decision you make or action you take and truly this is what the governor is good at: negotiation, mediation, mediation-arbitration, diplomacy and creative peace building.
Regrettably, instead of constructive criticism, some of our teeming youth take sycophancy as a profession by protecting lies and being enslaved trying to make someone happy. Hailing and fabricating lies through their various platforms such as facebook, whatsapp, twitter and other social media platforms day and night writing and posting rubbish is their trade. They don’t want to hear anyone or any medium criticising their bosses or identifying their faults.
Mr. Henry Shield twitted, saying that there’s a difference between being a supporter of a politician and being a slave. Many have crossed to slavery without knowing it. A supporter will point out mistakes to the leader. A slave continues shouting, oh yes! oh yes!”. Then we should understand that pointing out a leader’s mistakes is not hatred but just like recommendation or observation, and I advise that criticisms too should be constructive and not destructive. Hate speech is not a solution to the development or unity of our dear nation, it can only create disunity among the citizens.
Astonishingly, I observe that Hon. Mai Mala Buni silenced some popular critics like a Publisher of Desert Herald, Tukur Mamu, a lawyer, Barr. Bulama Bukarti, and a journalist, who is also a popular facebook user, Husseini Mohammed Isa. To back my assertion, let me remind you of the recent award given to Gov. Buni by the same Malam Tukur Mamu as the best performing governor.
I, personally, was among those that criticised Gov. Buni’s administration earlier before I realised that he has listening ears, eschew bitterness and taking actions with immediate effect whenever an issue is brought to his table and that is why some people call him Baba Mai Sulhu (meaning, Chief Reconciliator). He said, “there would be no peace if there’s no justice” and this is what exactly the governor is doing to reconcile his party members (APC). And for me, if the party leadership will continue to imitate Buni’s kind of leadership, they will definitely win elections beyond 2023.
Mai Mala Buni’s uniqueness in conflict resolution has turned Yobe state to one party system and ended the internal crisis in his party. It’s obvious that anybody who will eschew bitterness and rumor mongering will definitely succeed in running the affairs of his administration.
But the question here is; does that mean the criticizers remain mute despite the fact that most of the critics are doing it constructively? The answer is no, the governor has created a platform for people that will give them the opportunity to log their complaints through proper channels of communication and will reach its destination without bureaucratical hindrances and most of us continue through this channel.
I also found out that, it’s through critics that the state government under the leadership of Mai Mala Buni, some of the policies were implemented, policies like declaration of a ‘State of Emergency on Education’ and the likes. Since he took over the mantle of leadership as the governor of the state, I have been reading newspapers, watching television, listening to radio and have been following social media platforms with keen interest and found out that the number of critics has reduced to a minimal point.
Believe me, I have never met the governor in person or spoke with him on the phone but the way he addresses issues is what discouraged me and my likes from criticising him publicly. It’s on record that Gov. Buni is not quarreling with anyone politically or socially.
And let me conclude by describing those leaders that are humiliating journalists and activists that are pointing out their mistakes as disheartening leaders that lack good human relations and as well as those that don’t want to excel in running the affairs of their offices. I then call on them to emulate the governor of Yobe state, Mai Mala Buni, in order to eschew bitterness and be tolerant in their pursuits.
Gulani writes from Damaturu, Yobe State. 07064230285
