Being the governor of a particular state is a famous task in a democracy to observe, restructure and improve the welfare of the people in efforts to maintain a linear movement of the state. The governor and his cabinet must work tirelessly to deliver the needful to be free from critics and public tension. But the story of Yobe state is different.
People generally address Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe state as an ‘Abuja Governor’, perhaps not for mocking or smearing his political career, but to draw his attention to the needs of his people and the pending works in his office. People who have direct bearing with the governor’s office have a different view about the recent road and motor parks projects launched in some parts of the state. There is nothing good to tell the public about and that is not enough for the entire state that has poor governance. In essence, people need their governor’s presence in the state as the number one in command.
Nonetheless, I would like to bring to his notice and to equally draw his attention to the recent sad development that occurs at Gashua Central cemetery in Bade local government area of Yobe state. The incident happened on Sunday, May 10, 2021, as the upshot of uncontrollable flooding submerged Gashua cemetery after the heavy downpour in the town.
Sadly, no fewer than 650 graves have collapsed and buried corpses have been exposed as well as washing away of people’s buildings leaving them stranded with no houses to live in, talk less of something eatable which were lost in the flooding.
During the rainy season, we experience a devastating flooding menace that needs state and federal governments’ intervention as well as nongovernmental organisations, because it is a capital-intensive project.
However, many preventive measures were provided by some developed countries that have experienced thye negative impact of flooding. They put in place measures for averting its future effects and even the flood.
As such, Governor Buni has to join hands with the senator representing Yobe North and seek federal government’s intervention to avoid further occurrences. As said earlier, the project is capital intensive.
Islamically, exposed graves cause a shortage of rainfall. For this, the dwellers of that community should have to contribute by visiting the cemetery twice per week to examine the condition of the graves.
In a nutshell, as the governor has been claiming that whether you are in Abuja or somewhere else nothing can be properly managed. This is a wrong notion and ill-advised, it’s high time the governor looked over his shoulders in discharging his primary responsibilities.
Magayaki writes from Azare, Bauchi State.
