Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State and President Bola Tinubu’s Senior Special Adviser on Political Matters, Kabiru Ibrahim Masari, have pledged N600 million for the construction of Fortune University in Bauchi State.
The university, established by Jama’atul Izalatul Bid’ah Wa’ikamatus Sunnah, JIBWIS, in Magama Gumau community, Toro Local Government Area, is currently under construction, with Masari and Buni each pledging N300 million towards the project.
The pledge was announced during a one-day national symposium organized by JIBWIS in Jos, Plateau State, with the theme, “Enhanced Political Participation and Social Justice as a Panacea for Unity and Development in Nigeria.”
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Masari said he was unaware that JIBWIS had an ongoing university project before the symposium but decided to support it.
“I am not aware that there is an ongoing project by the organization. I pledge N300 million. Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State has also pledged N300 million as a contribution for the project,” he said.
Earlier, JIBWIS National Chairman of the Ulama’u Council, Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, appealed to Muslims across the country to contribute towards the construction of the university. Jingir said the institution, when completed, would serve both Muslims and Christians.
“The university is not my personal property. It is for the organization. We feel that we need to have educational institutions that people can attend to make our country better,” he said.
The cleric also urged individuals and politicians who had previously pledged funds towards the project to fulfil their commitments.
He cited Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu, who he said had earlier pledged N450 million and N300 million, respectively.
Jingir, who has publicly expressed support for President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, has previously faced criticism over allegations that he uses his religious influence for political purposes.
The cleric recently came under criticism following comments at a mass wedding in Kano, where he urged Nigerians to support Tinubu’s re-election bid in the 2027 presidential election.
He attributed his support for Tinubu to the President’s Muslim-Muslim ticket. His remarks drew condemnation from religious groups, civil society organizations and other Nigerians, who accused him of introducing partisan politics into religious activities.
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Umar Ibrahim Umar, Executive Director of War Against Injustice cautioned against concluding that the N600 million pledge was politically motivated but called for transparency over the source and intended use of the funds.
He said while support for education and community development was commendable, the size of the pledge warranted public scrutiny.
“Given the public offices and political affiliations of Kabiru Masari and Mai Mala Buni, Nigerians deserve clear answers: Was the money from personal accounts or public funds?
“What project is it meant for, and who will implement it? Without convincing answers, suspicions may grow that religious influence is being leveraged for political or personal interests.”
“If the funds are lawfully sourced, properly documented, and genuinely applied to education, there should be no fear of scrutiny.
“But if public money was diverted without due process, it would represent a serious breach of trust and financial responsibility,” he added.
Similarly, the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education, CHRICED, expressed concern over the pledge.
While acknowledging the importance of investment in education, CHRICED questioned whether the funds constituted personal contributions or involved public resources, saying Nigerians deserved transparent answers supported by verifiable evidence.
The group said the timing of the pledge, coming after Jingir’s advocacy for a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket and months before the 2027 general elections, could heighten public suspicion.
It warned that substantial financial gestures by political actors in a politically charged environment could be perceived as attempts to influence political outcomes and called for an independent investigation into the source of the funds.
CHRICED also cautioned against turning the 2027 elections into a contest of religious identities, saying Nigerians needed leaders defined by credibility, competence and accountability.
The organization stressed that the country’s future should be shaped by citizens choosing leaders based on integrity and vision rather than sectarian sentiment or political patronage.
Daily Trust
