President Muhammadu Buhari recently asked the Senate to confirm the appointment of 12 nominees as members of the Governing Board of the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) with Alhaji Bashir Ba’ale from Yobe State as Chairman. .
The request was necessitated by the expiration of the tenure of the incumbent Governing Board of the NEDC.
Since the announcement of the nomination by the Presidential Spokespersons, stakeholders and youth groups in the North-East have continued to applaud the President for nominating Alhaji Ba’ale whom they described as the best man to chair the board.
Gujba Emirate Council
The Gujba Emirate council in Yobe described the nomination of Alhaji Ba’ale as best suited for the Job which aims at bringing “positive development” to the NEDC and the entra-North East.
A statement by the Emir of Gujba, His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr) Mai Muktar Ibn Ali Gangarang called Alhaji Ba’ale a “community leader”, and a “game-changer” who believes in positive transformation of the society and humanity. He assured President Buhari, President-Elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Governors of the North-East states that Alhaji Ba’ale will justify the confidence reposed in him.
The Gujba Emirate council commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the fresh nomination to the NEDC and also appreciated the Governors of the North-East states for their support.
The Gujba Emirate council will continue to support programmes and policies of the government for the benefit of Yobe state and the other states of the North-East while the Emirate awaits the new Board chairman’s confirmation, it said.
North-East Progressive Forum (NEPF)
Similarly, stakeholders in the north-east have described Alhaji Ba’ale as a “man of integrity”, impeccable and a “loyal party member”, expressing hope of a total turn-around in the North-East.
A statement by the leader of the North-East Youth Progressive Forum, Comrade Muhammed Hassan stressed the need for the urgent confirmation of Alhaji Ba’ale by the Senate as Chairman, Governing Board of the NEDC.
While wishing him the best in the new assignment, the Forum said it believed that Alhaji Ba’ale would justify the confidence reposed in him by President Buhari in the effort to achieving total transformation of the NEDC as well as new strategies and policies that will bring hope to the people of the region.
The Forum also said the appointment of Alhaji Ba’ale would bring a “new lease of life” to the North-East, considering the devastating effects of insecurity in that part of the country.
Yobe Youth Forum (YYF)
The Yobe Youth Forum commended the Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, and the All Progressives Congress Party (APC) for their support towards the nomination of Alhaji Ba’ale as the NEDC Governing Board Chairman.
According to the Forum, Alhaji Ba’ale’s nomination will bring development to the people of the North-East.
A statement by the YYF President, Alhaji Muhammed Usman, said the Governor of Yobe State and the Chieftains of the APC had done the right thing by nominating Alhaji Ba’ale, believing in his “doggedness and innovation” to change the narratives in the entire North-East.
The forum also appealed to the senate to accede to the request of the President and confirm the nomination of the board members.
Profile of Bashir Bukar Ba’ale
Bashir Bukar Ba’ale will be the first Chairman of the Governing Board of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), with a Masters Degree in Humanitarian and Refugee Studies and Masters in International Humanitarian Law, which will no doubt help the Commission in a greater way.
Born 30th December, 1980 in Goniri, Gujba local government area of Yobe State, Ba’ale, attended Central Primary School, Buni-Yadi from 1985-1991, Government College Nguru from 1991-1997.
He later proceeded to Federal Polytechnic Damaturu for his Diploma Certificate in Law.
He was at the University of Maiduguri 2012-2017 where he bagged his Bachelor of Law Certificate (BL) and was consequently admitted to Nigeria Law School 2017-2018 and called to the Bar in 2019.
He was also at the Institute of Nigeria Chattered Mediators and Conciliators 2018-2018 respectively.
Writing by Zaccheus Babalola; Editing by Daniel Adejo and Tony Okerafor