Betara Aliyu: How Constituency mobilize, contributes over N100 million to purchase form for representative in Borno

By: James Bwala

It was no news that the member representing Biu, Kwaya-Kusar, Bayou and Shani Federal constituency in Borno state, Hon. Muktari Betara Aliyu is loved by his people owing to his servantship. Betara has become a household name across Biu emirate in Borno state in northeast Nigeria. He has become an eye opener as to what defines the representation of people by Politicians entrusted with the people’s mandate. If anything, Betara Aliyu can remain a monarch in the green chamber until death. This perhaps is the people’s wishes owing to his principles and style of leadership in the over decade of representation of the kingly people of the Biu emirate.

NEWSng reports that love and generosity were his core values. Betara has been named the champion of modern development in southern Borno to the effect that he extended goodwill to other constituencies where leadership was never expressed in terms of its destination since the return of democracy in 1999. His outing at every occasion indeed makes both the young and old to call out in the loudest voice that, indeed makes him taller than the physical structure that keeps smiling both in times of good and challenging times. 

It was not as if Betara never had enemies. Infact, there are many who out of envy are trying hard to suppress his long term achievements. But according to the wording of the Holy Book, ‘One with God is a majority. ” And indeed the voice of the people is the voice of God as they said. Betara continued to swim across the waters despite the presence of crocodiles and hippopotamus. 

Whenever the challenges are much, the wind that fires progress leads him more to the hearts of the people. It was as a result of this that the people of his constituency and beyond mobilised themselves to contribute over one hundred million naira (over N100, 000,000.00) to purchase a form for his return to the green chamber at the National Assembly. The amount of money gathered and more that is coming is enough to bankroll his campaign. But voices across his constituency are of the opinion that Betara Aliyu needs no campaign as his seat is not vacant. This means that the amount of money on ground today can buy forms for the next 20 years should Betara decide to remain the ‘Emir’ of the green chamber.

Speaking to NEWSng on how the people of his constituency mobilises support for the lawmaker, the former political adviser to governor Kashim Shettima and current PCC state Commissioner, Alhaji Yusuf Adamu described Betara Aliyu as a pragmatic leader, who touches the lives of his people in many ways whether as his supporter or in the opposition.

“Betara understands the problem of his people, which is why he is succeeding. He is small in size but large at heart. He is quick to forgive. He is an introvert who does not talk much but his actions always speak volume. He is a description of a complete gentleman. He is the emerging leader in this political dispensation as far as the Biu Emirate is concerned.

“This is one representative that goes down to the grassroots and touches the lives of his people at the lowest part of the community. If you look at the caliber of people who are coming out to support his reelection bid, you would notice that even lowly people are coming out with their widow’s might. Also people from far and near and many others outside Borno state have brought in support for Betara Aliyu. This shows the kind of person he is.” Adamu said.  

Also Ibrahim Wudiri, a stakeholder in Hawul local government area of Borno state observed that unlike in Hawul and Askira where the people are asking for change, the people of Biu, Kwaya-Kusar, Shani and Bayo federal constituency in Borno state extolled the leadership virtues of their representative, Hon. Muktari Betara Aliyu over his brilliant performance across the federal constituency where he is representing at the National Assembly.

According to him, the exultation made on Thursday during the collection of form for Betara Aliyu endeared the man to many who had not seen or know him personally. “When his supporters stormed the APC national secretariat to obtain the nomination form, I was also at the All Progressive Congress, APC Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday. I was there not only to be part of the good things happening to the people of Biu, Kwaya-Kusar, Bayo and Shani Federal Constituency but also to solidly support identify with the man his colleagues called ‘The Head Boy’ at the green chamber in the National Assembly. But my drive about him was that he keeps a smile.

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“I was also there to have firsthand information about the pulse of the people at the historic outing to purchase the N10 million worth form meant for the return of Hon. Muktari Betara Aliyu to the green chamber. Earlier, I got the filler and the support coming from the people. This could happen anywhere perhaps but not in Borno state. It was strange, but this was rather unusual.

“My conclusion was not far from what many people have arrived at. Hon. Betara deserves everything. He was everywhere in his constituency and it was payback time. I was told during the purchase of the form that the people across his constituency and beyond contributed over N110 million naira for Betara’s form. What a love for a performer. I said the money contributed is enough to buy a form for him in the next 20 years. The beauty of it all is that, Hon. Muktari Betara Aliyu was not on ground when all these were happening. He chooses to go and seek the face of Allah through prayers in the Holy Land.” Wudiri said.

Halima Musa, a politician from Biu said “We appreciate God for the gift of life, and for staying alive to witness today. I want to express how I feel about this gathering today, and this convergence is an opportunity for us as the people of Biu, Kwaya-Kusar, Bayo and Shani federal constituency to reinforce the kindred ties among us. We are a blessed people and we thank God for what he has done so far through our representative. That is why we all came out to support and give a contribution towards Betara’s reelection bid. We must return him to the house and we will continue to do this until he says otherwise.”

Betara Aliyu: How Constituency mobilize, contributes over N100 million to purchase form for representative in Borno