By Yusuf Ali
Hon. Mai Mala Buni’s appointment as chair of a seven-member committee to expand the National Executive Committee, NEC, of the All-Progressives Congress, APC, testifies to his rising political profile, but more importantly his credibility as a politician and a statesman.
Indeed, Buni’s leadership prowess continues to earn him trust and recognition. The committee’s mandate is pivotal to strengthening the party’s structure and ensuring inclusivity ahead of future elections.
This new appointment is yet another testament to Buni’s ability to unite and lead without seeking power for personal gain. It reflects his established reputation as a leader who delivers results, strengthens institutions, and prioritizes the collective good.
Mai Mala Buni’s political career has been shaped by factors beyond personal ambition. During the Third Republic in 1992-93, he was in Lagos when a delegation of local politicians from his ward asked him to return home and contest for the position of councillor. He answered their call and contested under the National Republican Convention, winning by a landslide in a state otherwise dominated by the Social Democratic Party.
Following the inauguration of the Gujba Local Government Council, Buni did not campaign for any leadership position. Yet, the eight NRC councillors unanimously elected him as the Leader (Speaker) of the council legislature, despite the council chairman being an SDP member with only two councillors supporting him.
Throughout Buni’s career, this pattern of being selected without solicitation has been consistent. He was elected as Yobe State Chairman of the Action Congress and retained the position when the party became the Action Congress of Nigeria. In 2013, he was appointed as the inaugural chairman of the All-Progressives Congress in Yobe State at its formation, without actively seeking the position.
Buni was elected APC National Secretary in 2015 and re-elected unopposed in 2018. His ability to unify and strategize made him a natural choice for these roles, which he accepted as a call to serve rather than an opportunity for personal ambition.
In 2019, Mai Mala Buni, who was serving as APC National Secretary, was nominated as the APC gubernatorial candidate for Yobe State. Despite competition from other contenders, he emerged victorious in the primaries and went on to win the general election decisively. His victory was so well-received that the opposition candidate, Amb. Iliya Damagum, did not contest the results in court, reflecting the widespread trust in his leadership.
In 2020, amid internal crises within the APC, Buni was appointed as the chairman of the party’s Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee. His leadership during this period demonstrated his humility and capacity to unite factions, culminating in a successful convention that solidified the APC’s strength.
Buni’s leadership is acknowledged beyond the APC. He was recently elected chairman of the Governors of the Lake Chad Basin Forum. In this role, his approach to reconciliation and commitment to peace are anticipated to address the region’s challenges.
Now, with his latest assignment as Chairman of the committee to expand the APC’s National Executive Committee, Mai Mala Buni continues to prove that leadership is not about seeking power but about answering the call to serve. His legacy reminds us that true leaders are chosen by the people and destiny.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Friday, the Chairman of the committee, Buni stressed that the committee is to expand and look at so many areas of the party’s constitution with the view to encourage wider participation and involvement.
Justifying the setting up of the committee, Buni, a one-time National Caretaker Committee Chairman of the party, said for the ruling party to remain relevant, the need to periodically review its operations and activities informed the formation of the committee.
His words: “As the leading political party in Africa that wants to continue to be relevant, we must not be static hence the constitution of a committee like this with mandate to strengthen the party.
“Development is about continuous improvement. We know that laws are made for men, men are not made for laws. Laws can be adjusted to serve the party’s interests.
“We shall be in consultation with founding fathers of the party. Those who drafted the constitution of the party, we are consulting them, because we know, it takes wisdom to produce a party constitution. We cannot discard their wisdom and create something different. We will consult them.
“The assignment of the committee is to strengthen and further widen the scope of operations and for proper inclusion. It is all about inclusivity. We do not want to exclude people; we want to include people. That means we want to have a document that will strengthen the party and prepare it for the 2027 election.
“It is about all about inclusivity. We are going to work on that and by the grace of God, we are sure, God will guide us and see us through to deliver on the work as expected of us.”
On the scope of the committee, Buni who played a pivotal role in stabilising the party during a challenging period, culminating in a successful national convention in March 2022, said the committee has a wide term of reference, adding that would be made to come up with recommendations that the NEC will be able to work with ahead the convention and 2027 general elections.
*Ali is senior special assistant to Buni
