May 29: Buni to hold town hall forum live
Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe on Sunday announced plans to hold a town hall forum live on radio with the residents in order to boost direct in with the people on May 29.
Dr Ibrahim Yabani, the Special Adviser to the governor on Radio, Television and Digital Media, who made this known to newsmen in Damaturu said the programme was slated for 11 a.m.
“The main objective of the forum is to bridge the communication gap between the government and the people.
“It allows citizens to ask questions directly to the governor and get clarifications on government activities,” Yabani said.
He said this would be the first time such an engagement was organised in the state, adding that it also draws inspiration from global democratic practices such as the American model of town hall meetings.
“This political development is not new globally, but it is new to us in this format.
“It is a step towards transparency, inclusion and participatory governance,” he added.
Yabani said the forum was designed to promote trust and accountability between the government and the governed, allowing the public to play a more active role in shaping policies.
“The governor is ready to answer all questions — including those from individuals, the press, and civil society.
“We are creating an open space where no one feels excluded,” Yabani said.
On media access, Yabani acknowledged that some journalists and media organisations had limited opportunities to interact with the governor directly.
He, however, assured that the forum would offer them a rare opportunity to pose questions without bureaucratic bottlenecks.
Yabani said modalities were being put in place to ensure that the forum would be conducted in an orderly manner and not degenerate into chaos.
He said that English would be the primary language of communication, adding that there were plans to include other widely spoken languages like Hausa, Kanuri and Fulfulde in future editions.
“In the long term, we hope to organise separate town hall sessions in local languages to ensure broader inclusivity.
“We are committed to enhancing communication between the government and the people,” he said.
Yabani said the forum would be community-targeted, with invitations extended to various segments of society including civil society organisations, women groups, and media professionals.
He said that public awareness campaigns through radio, television and digital media had been ongoing to sensitise the public about the upcoming event.
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“We may not be able to accommodate everyone physically, but we are using the media to ensure that everyone is informed and can follow the discussions,” he said.
Yabani assured that feedback from the maiden edition would be used to improve subsequent editions.
He reiterated that the state government was committed to ensuring that all stakeholders have the opportunity to contribute to governance through such platforms.
