The candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) for Plateau North Senatorial District, Dr. Jonathan Musa Bature, in this interview, promises a better deal for the people in the area of improved security, employment opportunities and fairness to all constituents, insisting that the suffering and economic hardship faced by his people has reached a breaking point
What is your motivation for contesting the position of senator representing Plateau North Senatorial district in the murky waters of Nigerian politics?
First and foremost, I have indeed witnessed the suffering of my people in Jos North Senatorial District of Plateau State. I have heard their cries arising from weak leadership, violence, kidnappings and the instability that has troubled their land. I am fully aware of their pain and their sorrow. Therefore, I have come to rescue them from the grip of oppression and to lead them into a better land-a land of peace, joy, rest and abundance; a land flowing with milk and honey. As I reasoned these things, I heard a clear divine direction from the Lord, saying, “Now go, for I am sending you to stand against those who oppress the people. When you bring the people out of bad governance, they will serve me in peace.” This divine burden has shaped my life and mission as an educator, administrator, security expert, politician and proud son of Jos East, prepared for this defining moment in the history of Plateau State.
How prepared are you for this calling in terms of your roots, education and public service?
Originally, I hail from Jos East, which is part of Plateau North. I was born in the 1960s. My life has been one of service to God, my community and to Nigeria. My early education was in Plateau State. My secondary school was in what is today known as Nasarawa State. I later gained admission into the University of Jos, where I earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree. I did not stop there. I returned to school and obtained a Master’s Degree in Law and Diplomacy, as well as Security and Intelligence at the University of Lagos, because leadership without knowledge is dangerous. On my career in public service, I started as an Education Officer Grade VIII with the Plateau State Ministry of Education, teaching English Language and Literature at the GSS GYEL Secondary School. That classroom taught me patience and the value of building and empowering people. From there, I moved into development. I consulted for MEDAL on the World Bank Water Supply Mapping Project for Plateau State. We produced the cartographic mapping for Jos water supply. I also worked briefly with BOBEC on revenue strategies for the Plateau State Water Board. My passion for governance led me to the Plateau State Local Government Service Commission as an Administrative Officer I where I rose to Senior Administrative Officer through hard work and diligence. I was later appointed Clerk of Bokkos Local Government Legislative Council-a position traditionally reserved for indigenes where I served for three years with integrity. My last place of public service was at the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) where I served in various departments and retired as the Chief Security Officer in the Security Department.
At what point did you decide to venture into politics?
That was in 2003 when I contested the Plateau State House of Assembly under the Alliance for Democracy (AD) after leaving the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) due to what I perceived as injustice. I was not declared winner, but we shook the system in Jos East and the people felt our impact at that time.
Your desire to vie for a senatorial seat is a tall order. Did you suddenly come about the ambition?
Absolutely not. I started politics at the grassroots level first as a youth leader, as clerk and as a candidate of the Plateau State House of Assembly. For decades I have worked with all the PDP governorship candidates on the Plateau. And as such, I don’t see this as a mere ambition, but a progression and a calling.
What is your record in community service and how have you engaged with communities beyond Plateau State?
For me, service has no boundaries. For instance, in Lagos, specifically in Ikorodu-Igbogbo-Baiyeku axis, my community honoured me with the chieftaincy title of Sarkin Ayuka Fudelek. I have also received recognitions locally and in the Diaspora for promoting unity and peace. After retirement, I registered my company with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and went into security services. But politics kept calling. After deep consultations with the All Progressives Congress (APC), PDP and NDC, I dare say, I chose the NDC-a party built on fairness, inclusion and people-driven governance. I picked the Expression of Interest form for the Plateau North Senatorial District. NDC’s process is clean: you first express interest. Only after your people endorse you through primaries or consensus do you get nomination. No imposition. No godfatherism and by the special grace of God, I emerged as the NDC Senatorial Candidate for Plateau North.
Why did you aim directly for the Senate at this point in time?
Well, that is because the moment calls for it. I have paid my dues at the grassroots level. Now I must go to Abuja to attract federal development, laws and projects that will change Plateau North.
In specific terms, what is your connection to Plateau North?
As I said before, my origin is in Jos East Local Government Area. My leadership began in university as *National President of the Fudelek Youth Movement (FYM) and later as the National Secretary, Afizere Youth Movement (AYM). I have served Afizere people home and abroad. My blood, my service and my commitment are all in Plateau North.
What inspired you to run for the senatorial seat?
I would say it resulted from injustice in power sharing. Since 1999, five out of six LGAs in Plateau North have produced senators. Only Jos East has not produced a senator. That is not democracy. That is exclusion. I stepped forward because fairness demands it. Jos North must take its rightful place in the scheme of things.
How do you plan to represent all six local government areas in the senatorial district fairly, including Jos East?
Previous senators from the zone focused only on their base. I will not. I will ensure equitable distribution of projects, while constituency projects and allowances will be distributed across all the six councils based on need and impact. On youth engagement, we will use youth empowerment to fight insecurity, while ensuring inclusive governance in which every community, big or small, must be represented.
What do you see as the three greatest challenges in Plateau North?
That is a very crucial questions and they include insecurity, particularly in Bassa, Barkin Ladi and, Riyom, which have been bleeding largely from insecurity. There is also chronic unemployment as our graduates continue to roam the streets. We also suffer lack of development in road infrastructure, hospitals and schools, which are decaying. But my strategy to change the narrative would be dialogue and constructive engagement, youth empowerment and aggressive lobbying for federal intervention.
What are your concrete plans for jobs creation and support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs)?
The major challenge and problem have been and continues to be a broken value chain. Our women are farming, but cannot move produce to market. Our graduates are doing leather work, shoe making, fashion-but have no capital. However, my plans are simple and clear and that would be to fix broken rural roads and market linkages for women, farmers and traders. We will provide capital, training and access to markets access for the youths in leather, agriculture and technology. We will also develop a blueprint for agricultural value chains and organize responsible mining to create sustainable jobs.
How will women and Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) benefit from your projects and programmes?
We have neglected PWDs for too long. With the new Federal Ministry for Persons With Disabilities, I will ensure that Plateau North gets its share. In my office, every empowerment programme will have a mandatory quota for women and PWDs- in grants, skills and infrastructure development. And we will partner with the state government to move PWDs from the streets to skills and dignity.
What federal projects will you give priority attention to?
Simply put, those would be the completion of the Abuja–Keffi–Jos–Gombe highway and resuscitation of all federal hospitals, schools and water projects in all six local government areas.
What is your advice and message to the youths of Plateau North and to those aspiring to serve?
My message is simple-They should rise, build and Serve with Integrity. Our youths should not wait but engage in creative activities. I see their talents in leather, in fashion, in technology in agriculture. Government will provide roads, capital and markets. But you must get up and build. A youth with a skill and a job will not carry a gun. Channel your energy into production, not destruction. Plateau needs builders, not fighters. Those who want to serve should know that service is sacrifice. Politics is not all about money or title. It is about burden. Any young person who desires to serve, must first ask: “Can I carry the pain of my people?” There is also the part of staring small. Be faithful in your community, in your church, in your youth group. Leadership is earned at the grassroots level. I started as a youth president. I served as a clerk and I lost a crucial election. But I never stopped serving. It is equally important for the youths to shun violence and embrace knowledge, because education remains the greatest weapon. Leadership without knowledge is dangerous. Our youths should develop a culture of reading, learning diplomacy, understanding governance and above all, fear God because without God, power destroys. Our youths should be agents of peace and unity. Plateau North, comprising Jos North, Jos East, Jos South, Bassa, Barkin Ladi and Riyom is one family. Do not allow politicians to divide you along tribal or religious lines. Our strength is in our unity. If you serve with a clean heart, God will open doors for you. And when you get there, remember the people who sent you.”
If you were asked to name a three-point agenda for the Plateau North Senatorial District, what would that be?
That is pretty simple as I already have it all figured out. My three-point agenda will be in the area of security to strengthen collaboration between the youth, traditional rulers and security agencies. My second agenda will focus on jobs creation, especially to empower women in agriculture, equip the youths with skills and support for SMEs, as well as promote organized, legal and responsible mining activities. My third agenda will be to ensure equity to guarantee balanced development in the six local government areas and finally end our 24 years of exclusion.
What would be your closing words to stakeholders and the people of Plateau North Senatorial District?
My mission is rooted in dignity, creating opportunities and inclusion. The farmer in the village, the graduate with a skill and the person living with disability must all feel the impact of government. For over two decades, one local government has been left behind. That chapter must close. Plateau North will rise together. No community will be forgotten.
