Betara’s Footprints And The People’s Testimony

Betara’s Footprints And The People’s Testimony

By: James Bwala

For those following activities of the member Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Muktari Betara Aliyu, his footprints across his constituency speaks volumes.

Last week, a friend of mine travelled to my village in Biu and came back with a lot of stories on how the people have accommodated him. He also told me of how he was taken round by a brother I asked to host him. His stories were striking evidence he saw from my previous write up about the giant stride being achieved by Hon. Muktari Aliyu Betara. He speaks of the houses, the roads and the drainages he saw. Both constructed and those still under construction and concluded that, indeed the stories he heard before he traveled about Biu are facts that not even a political enemy could deny.

While my friend, Lanre, as we called him, has his own stories to tell, I know he was, however, not eligible to vote in my area. If however, he could, I know that he has already pitched his tent with the people for Betara Aliyu.

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It was not long that I was in Biu and each time I was home, friends and relations always wanted me to go round to see things for myself. Each time we stepped out I could see the colours of a new Biu town. Talking about new developments, I always feel like I belong to a better side. My observations were no different from other people who feel the representative has captured the hearts of his people. Their testimonies have always been accompanied with prayers and the best of wishes for Betara.

My curiosity and mannerisms in asking questions has always betrayed me even when I decided not to speak to our people about how they feel or pleased with Betara’s representation. I bring out the journalism in me and my friends would rather become spectators. And I always tell them as journalists, we work while walking.

Putting a call and speaking to the people across the streets in Biu became another area of interest for my piece on Betara’s giant stride in Biu. Of course, his services cut across all the local government he is representing at the green chamber. Whenever I called, it was a new story and about new development all together. A new name they called him is ” Sarkin Aiki”. 

I could recalled that before now the media space was covered with all sorts of obscenities, amongst which series of propaganda were that Betara does not have anything to show for his long stay in the green Chambers as the representative of the Biu, Kwaya-Kusar, Bayo and Shani Federal Constituency. Permutations were rife that Hon. Muktari Betara will be formally sent to the cleaners, in solidarity with other estranged political gladiators eyeing his seat at the green Chambers. 

It is an open secret that there are political opponents, who prefer other gladiators in the game for their selfish interest but the people have pitched their tents with Muktari Betara Aliyu.  While it is common knowledge that those political demigods have sworn to undo Betara whom they regards as a political neophyte and an ungrateful benefactor, facts available to me indicate that, Betara actually fought to free his constituency from the rapacious political hold of  men who rather than have development around their people, they prefer to have the people worship them. 

This kind of circle of politicking is coming around again as Nigeria heads for another round of elections in 2023. That they could not fault his achievements on developmental strides, they are looking for other areas to pitch the people against him.  

Not until I listened to what the people were saying across the streets in Biu as to the efforts being made by Hon. Muktari Betara Aliyu to give succor to the people of his constituency through job creation, healthcare services, agriculture, structural development and road constructions did I guess where their anger draws from. Betara has remained steadfast and focused in delivering the dividends of democracy to his constituency, while detractors seem petrified that he will rubbish whatever records they had claimed to have achieved that makes them see themselves as kingmakers.

I recalled when the Borno state governor; Professor Babagana Umara Zulum visited Biu for the commissioning of projects under his administration. Known for his blunt and often frank views about issues in governance, his remarks on some of the achievements made by Betara showcase the type of representation the Zulum’s administration would always want to align with. The governor himself confessed that he was overwhelmed with what was put as part of effort in the development of Biu and the display of courage in achieving those feet by the representative, Betara Aliyu.

Speaking to a cross section of residents of Biu town on phone, they said, Hon. Betara Aliyu seems to know what he has to show, that was why he allowed the world through Professor Babagana Umara Zulum to peek into his odyssey of transformation. According to them, Betara has always insisted on giving his constituency the best he can offer and the people have seen that he has demonstrated that in all he had said. For Betara, there are no twisted political speeches but with confidence and reasoning to every word for everyone, he has taken the journey so far to where detractors are left with amazement. 

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Hon. Muktari Betara Aliyu has defined democracy in its true statement – For the people. The achievements across his constituency speak for him. The people have aligned themselves to his vision thereby confusing his detractors. He remained passionate about the possibility of changing the narratives in politics as it affects the lives of the people he is representing. I have interacted with some of them, and they do not seem to understand what was going on that makes him different from others who had continued to play the Ostrich with the people they are representing.  

During my last visit to Biu, I noticed a lot of developmental projects. Several projects and testimonies from the people point to facts that, given the opportunity, Betara Aliyu will drive a revolutionary approach across his constituency and beyond. 

While other representatives are being accused of remodeling and refurbishing old projects and celebrating them as the initiatives of their various representation, Betara did not seem to enjoy such a luxury, as all that were put on display are not only brand new, but far in excess of what his predecessors could ever claim to have left behind. 

The coming of governor Zulum to southern Borno for commissioning of projects confirmed this to the effect that his remarks are still being made a reference point to Betara’s numerous achievements. No wonder, Betara is being referenced as a role model for other upcoming leaders, having demonstrated uncommon passion in the development of his constituency in the face of many challenges. By virtue of what he has done for his people so far, Betara Aliyu was further endeared to the people he served. 

It is also true that Betara may have kept a low profile on his achievements because of the tendency for his critics to misinterpret or even stand the facts of such activities however lofty on their heads. Recent events however point to the fact that it is no longer charitable for him to hide his footmarks, especially in the areas of road construction within Biu town as seen by many who came visiting to the extent that even his critics will admit that his massive developmental strides deserve the necessary mention.

Betara’s Footprints And The People’s Testimony