Buni’s N300m donation to JIBWIS University is personal, not government funds — Aide

The Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, pledged N300 million to support the establishment of the JIBWIS University in Jos in his personal capacity and not on behalf of the state government, his media aide has said.

The Director-General, Press and Media Affairs to the governor, Mamman Mohammed, made the clarification amid criticism over the donation, with some residents describing it as a misplaced priority.

The controversy followed a N600 million pledge announced during a seminar organised by the Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatis Sunnah, JIBWIS, in Jos, Plateau State, on Sunday.

The Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Political Matters, Ibrahim Masari, had announced a personal donation of N300 million at the event and an additional N300 million pledge on behalf of Governor Buni towards the establishment of the proposed university.

The development attracted criticism from some residents of Yobe State, who questioned the decision to donate the money amid challenges confronting critical sectors in the state.

Some critics accused the governor of neglecting areas requiring urgent attention and questioned whether public funds were involved in the donation.

However, Mohammed rejected the claims, insisting that the governor’s pledge was made in his personal capacity and would not be funded from the Yobe State Government’s coffers.

“The donations made by Hon. Kabiru Masari on behalf of his humble self, and Governor Buni, were very personal and not on behalf of the Yobe State Government,” Mohammed said.

He further explained that Masari had no authority to make any pledge or take any decision on behalf of the Yobe State Government.

Mohammed consequently described reports suggesting that the N300 million pledge was made on behalf of the state government and would be paid from government resources as “totally false, inaccurate, misleading and a distortion of facts.”

According to him, Buni attended the JIBWIS event alongside the governors of Kano, Sokoto and Jigawa states, as well as other dignitaries.

He said the programme commenced with a courtesy visit to the Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, before participants proceeded to the venue of the seminar.

The clarification came amid renewed debate over the donation, particularly concerning the distinction between contributions made by public officials in their personal capacities and expenditure undertaken by government on behalf of the state.

The governor’s aide maintained that the N300 million pledge should not be interpreted as a commitment by the Yobe State Government.