Yobe Residents Slam Gov. Buni’s N300m Donation to JIBWIS
Residents and activists in Yobe State have criticised Governor Mai Mala Buni over his reported N300 million donation towards the proposed university of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS), with some questioning the priority given to the project amid challenges in the state’s education and healthcare sectors.
Buni announced the donation on Sunday in Jos, Plateau State, during a one-day national symposium organised by JIBWIS on the theme, “Enhanced Political Participation and Social Justice as a Panacea for Unity and Development in Nigeria.”
The governor said the funds would support the proposed religious university being established by the organisation.
The donation has, however, generated criticism from some residents and activists, who argued that greater attention should be given to pressing needs in education, healthcare and other basic services.
A member of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, Umar Yobe, alleged that public funds were used for the donation without consultation.
“N300 million was carelessly donated to Sheikh Jingir’s project from the public purse without anyone’s consent. He can’t afford a fraction of said amount outside power. This is how some people abuse power,” he said.
An activist, KY Tebo, also raised concerns about healthcare provision, alleging that residents suffering from kidney-related ailments in Bade and Jakusko Local Government Areas were experiencing difficulties accessing treatment.
Tebo questioned the decision to commit N300 million to the proposed university when, according to him, some residents lacked access to essential medical facilities.
“When you look at the amount of N300 million, you begin to ask what could have been done with that money in our hospitals,” he said.
He stressed that the criticism was not directed at the proposed university on religious grounds but was centred on government priorities.
“It is not because they are against religion or against the proposed university. The question is about priority,” Tebo said.
Similar concerns were raised about the education sector by another activist, Adamu Bello Jana, who said the state government needed to intensify efforts to address the challenges facing schools and children.
Jana identified the condition of some public schools and the number of out-of-school children as areas requiring urgent intervention.
“The education sector is among the worst in the state, and this is an area that should receive serious attention from the government,” he said.
He added that many schools were in poor condition and required rehabilitation.
“We have many out-of-school children in Yobe, and instead of seeing serious investment in education, we continue to see schools that are dilapidated,” Jana said.
He argued that the N300 million could have been deployed to address some of the challenges confronting the education sector.
“The money should be channelled to the education sector, as many schools in the state are dilapidated,” he added.
The controversy has also spread across social media, where some residents criticised the donation and described it as a misplaced priority. Others argued that the money could have been used to rehabilitate schools, strengthen healthcare facilities and address infrastructure deficits.
The debate initially centred on the alleged source of the donation, with critics questioning whether the funds came from the state government.
However, the Yobe State Government has rejected the allegation, clarifying that the N300 million pledge was a personal donation by Governor Buni and was not made on behalf of the state government.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Director-General, Press and Media Affairs to the Governor, Mamman Mohammed, said Buni attended the JIBWIS seminar in Jos alongside the governors of Kano, Sokoto and Jigawa states and other dignitaries.
According to Mohammed, the Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Kabiru Masari, delivered a goodwill message at the event and announced a personal donation of N300 million, alongside an additional N300 million pledge on behalf of Governor Buni, towards the construction of the JIBWIS university.
He stressed that the governor’s pledge was made in his personal capacity and not on behalf of the Yobe State Government.
“The donations made by Hon. Kabiru Masari on behalf of his humble self, and Governor Buni, were very personal and not on behalf of Yobe State Government,” Mohammed said.
He added that Masari had no authority to make a pledge or take a decision on behalf of the Yobe State Government.
Mohammed therefore described reports suggesting that the N300 million pledge was a state government donation to be paid from public funds as “totally false, inaccurate, misleading and a distortion of facts.”
While the government’s clarification has addressed the question of the source of the donation, critics continue to focus on whether public officials should prioritise private or institutional contributions to religious projects amid persistent challenges in education, healthcare and other essential services across the state.
