Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, Senatorial Candidate for Plateau North, Dr. Jonathan Musa Bature, has declared that the era of neglect and insecurity in the zone must end, vowing to make security, job creation and equity the centerpiece of his representation if elected.
In an interview with _New Experience Newspaper_, Bature said the killings, kidnappings and weak leadership plaguing Plateau North compelled him to answer what he described as a “divine call to rescue” the people.
*”I Have Witnessed Their Pain”*
Bature said his decision to contest was born out of firsthand experience of the suffering in Bassa, Barkin Ladi, Riyom and other LGAs.
“I have heard their cries arising from violence, kidnappings and the instability that has troubled our land. I have come to rescue them from the grip of oppression and to lead them into a land of peace, joy and abundance,” he stated.
He identified insecurity, chronic youth unemployment and infrastructural decay as the three greatest challenges facing the district.
Track Record and Preparation
A native of Jos East, Bature said his background as an educator, administrator and security expert prepared him for the task. He holds a BA from the University of Jos and a Master’s Degree in Law and Diplomacy, Security and Intelligence from the University of Lagos.
His public service cuts across the Plateau State Ministry of Education, Plateau State Local Government Service Commission where he rose to Senior Administrative Officer, Clerk of Bokkos LGC, and as Chief Security Officer at the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, before retirement.
He first ventured into politics in 2003 on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy, AD, and has worked with various governorship candidates in the state over the decades.
*Jobs, SMEs and Inclusion Agenda*
Bature outlined a clear plan to tackle unemployment: fixing rural roads and market linkages, providing capital and training for youths in leather, agriculture and technology, and organizing responsible mining.
“For women and Persons With Disabilities, PWDs, we have neglected them for too long. In my office, every empowerment programme will have a mandatory quota for women and PWDs in grants, skills and infrastructure,” he pledged.
He also promised to champion agricultural value chains and improve access to markets for women and farmers.
*The Equity Question*
On why he is running for Senate now, Bature cited imbalance in representation.
“Since 1999, five out of six LGAs in Plateau North have produced senators. Only Jos North has not produced a senator. That is not democracy. That is exclusion. I stepped forward because fairness demands it,” he said.
He said after consultations with APC, PDP and NDC stakeholders, he chose the NDC “a party built on fairness, inclusion and people-driven governance” and emerged as its candidate.
To the youths, Bature said: “Rise, build and serve with integrity. 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.”
*Three-Point Agenda*
He summarized his agenda as:
Security* – Strengthen collaboration with security agencies
Job Creation* – Empower women and youth for sustainable livelihoods
Equity* – Guarantee balanced development across the 6 LGAs to end “24 years of exclusion”
“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,” Bature concluded.
Dr. Bature is married to Dr. Dorcas Daniel Bature, PhD, and they are blessed with children.
