2023: Amuga Picks Gombe LP Governorship Ticket
BY VICTOR BUORO
Former Member of the old Bauchi State House of Assembly during the Second Republic, Hon. Keftin E. Amuga, has emerged as the Gombe governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) for the 2023 polls. Announcing the decision of the party in Gombe last week, the party said with the emergence of the former Second Republic lawmaker as its candidate, the coast was now clear for victory.
Hon Amuga comes with a rich background in politics as he played key leadership roles in the Progressive Party Alliance (PPA) in Bauchi State, consisting of the then political parties of the Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP); Peoples Redemption Party (PRP); Great Nigeria Peoples Party (GNPP) and the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). Hon. Amuga was a regular attendant in meeting convened by the 12 Progressive Governors that was co-chaired by the Rt. Hon Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Chief Obafemi Awolowo of the UPN.
Described as a legendary politician and elder statesman and a man with a lion’s heart for his people, he is deep in philanthropic activities and passionate in deploying politics for the good of the overall majority.
His participation in politics with the likes of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Mallam Aminu Kano, Alhaji Ibrahim Waziri, Governor Solomon Daushep Lar, Governor Abubakar Rimi, Governor Abubakar Barde, Chief Anthony Enahoro, Chief Paul Unongo, Lt Gen Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (rtd); Professor Jerry Gana, Governor Sule Lamido, Dr Bala Takaya, among others, reflect his wealth of experience.
At the peak of his political career, Amuga’s competence and political dynamism was recognised by the organisation of ‘Who is Who in Africa’ and ‘Who is Who in Nigeria’ which was subsequently published in their edition of 1982 and 2016 respectively.
The LP governorship candidate was born on September 5, 1954 in Kalmai, Tangale Chiefdom of Gombe State. He attended the Central Primary School, Billiri or his First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) between 1961 and 1967; Government College Kaduna from 1968 to 1972. He completed the Political Science degree at the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria in 1977. He would later acquire a higher degree in M.Sc Comparative Politics at the University of Jos in 1987.
Among some of the positions he held were Secretary of Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP) – Bauchi State (1979-1982); Legislator in Bauchi House of Assembly (1979-1983); Minority Leader, Bauchi House of Assembly (1979 -1983); Board Member of the Bauchi State Radio Corporation (1986 – 1988) and Senatorial Candidate for the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) for the 2019 General Elections.
