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The 2023 elections in Nigeria will certainly be different from others over the years as voter awareness has shifted from party outlook to more on candidates with pedigree. In Plateau State, BOOT Party’s governorship candidate, Abdullahi Ibrahim Baruga seems to hold the aces in this regard.
By Anthony Maliki
Few weeks to the governorship elections in Nigeria, there is no gainsaying that palpitations in various states and parties are at their peak. Many things are into play and contestants are working hard towards victory. Unlike in the past, this year’s elections seem to be one of the most uncertain in terms of how the victory will swing since return of democracy in 1999.
This is so because many electorates realize the fact that it no longer the issue of “big” or “small” political party but more of individuals standing for election. That is why in many states and across levels of political offices, individuals continue to win the hearts of voters. This is not far-fetched in Plateau State as the governorship candidate of BOOT Party, Abdullahi Ibrahim Baruga has continue to knit strings of acceptability across the state. At 40 years, Baruga has certain things going for him more so that he also has a young running mate, 36-year-old, Barrister Salome David. With a strong youth consciousness in Nigeria today, the BOOT team also has a robust support base in Plateau State which Baruga has taken into it fold.
This comes with a pedigree as Baruga has been a student union leader and has impacted greatly on the youth of Plateau State. As member of the national executive of the National Association of Plateau State Students (NAPSS) while studying Tourism Management at Kaduna Polytechnic, Baruga has helped secure admission for over 2000 Plateau State indigenes into various higher institutions of learning across the country. He had prior to this also served in the National Association of Plateau State Students in various capacities. He was an active member of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), West African Students Union (WASU), African Students Union (ASU) among others. Besides, he has to his credit the honour of starting the agitation on the BSc. /HND dichotomy in 2004 and his commitment to the struggle led to his nomination and unanimous endorsement by the then leadership of National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) and the polytechnic community nationwide as the polytechnic candidate to contest for the President of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in 2008, which he eventually lost in a keenly contested election.
He played significant roles in the first transition from a democratically elected government to another in 2007, it may be recalled that in 2007 the commitment of Nigerians to democracy was put to test, he was very resolute and championed the course with sincerity of purpose so as to engender growth, fresh leadership, new ideas and all-inclusive democracy in Nigeria going forward.
Even as a young man, Baruga is resolute about peaceful coexistence which led him to co-found the Association of Christian and Muslim Youths of Nigeria in 2011 and became its pioneer National Secretary-General.
As the Regional President of Global Association of West African Youths, key among his numerous activities was the promotion of democracy in West Africa and wrote key correspondences to several international organizations during the tensed 2015 presidential election with view to save Nigeria from an impending political crisis and the likely collapse of our nascent democracy.
Beyond the shores of Nigeria, as a pan African, Baruga was instrumental in the training of health workers that were mobilized to help contain Ebola across the West African-Sub-region and worked closely with ECOWAS in the realization of “ECOWAS VISION 2020” as well as in restoring orderliness in Cote-d’ Ivoire, Gambia and other West African countries during successive transitions across the West African countries that were marred with lots of controversies. These efforts never went unnoticed as he was honored with ‘Silver’ award by the West African Women Association (WAWA) in 2016 and also got commendation from the republics of Burkina-Faso, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia and Nigeria among other numerous laurels.
During his brief but impactful career in the civil service, he was honored with the National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) Award in 2018 by the Federal Government of Nigeria for his commitment and selfless service to the nation and made judicious use of this privilege to influence developmental projects from his MDA to Plateau State.
With great foresight and passion for development and commitment for self-realization among the youths, he organized a yearly talent-hunt football championship in some selected communities across the state with a view to scout promising sports men and women and to further support them in discovering their talents to become eventual professionals.
Perhaps, Baruga’s background attributes to his detribalized posture in life. He was born into the family of late Ibrahim Manja Somaisonka of Wase and a Yoruba mother, late Maryani Akinkumi in Langtang North. His mother was a Christian who eventually converted to Islam due to her marriage. With his, Baruga grew up without any religious sentiment as his maternal relations are mainly Christians. They all bonded together. Growing up in Langtang, Baruga assimilated deeply the culture of the peoples in the area transcending to Shendam, Quan Pan and Mikang among others. He was educated variously at Alheri Private School, Government College and Government Secondary School, all in Langtang.
Besides, Apex News Exclusive gathered that Baruga is moving strongly meeting stakeholders and youths across the state and has strong base in base in Wase, Kanam, Quan Pan, Shendam (Yelwa), Langtang North, Barkin Ladi, Jos North and Bassa local government areas. Also, his running mate, Barrister Salome, is adding value to the race too capturing the attention of the youth and women in the process. She is from Bokkos Local Government Area.
However, the BOOT Party is not leaving anything to chance knowing full well that other parties have their bases too. The All Progressives Congress (APC), has APC Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda as its candidate and Pam Bot-Mang has running mate, Labour Party has Dr. Patrick Dakum as flagbearer and Edward Pwajok Gyang running mate and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has Calen Mutfwang as candidate and Josephine Chundung Piyo as running mate.
During the last governorship election in Plateau State of 2019, it was too close to call as Governor Simon Lalong of APC who was seeking re-election pulled 595,582 votes against PDP’s Jeremiah Useni who earned 546,813 a difference of 48,769 votes. So, the pendulum can swing to any direction in the March 11 governorship polls in the state.
And with Nigeria electorate getting broader perspectives on issues and contestants daily, elections are now very uncertain until the last vote has been counted. This is more so that many features have been added to the electoral system in the country by the National Independent Electoral Commission (INEC). The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, electronic transmission of results and non-use of incident forms are key. These will no doubt help to achieve credible elections and any candidate that does his or her home work well will carry the day irrespective of incumbency and party and BOOT Party looks to be coasting home in Plateau State. The election day is nigh.
