Boya:The History of a Man with growing political feats
By Tom Garba
The future of Nigeria is no longer bleak, the generation of future credible leaders gets bigger in the country as against the backdrop of what is happening in the leadership creeds of the country in recent times. Many unpatriotic Nigerians are subjecting the country to a state of mockery, leading to a long chain of economic stagnation.
One of such symbol of hope is a leader born about four decades ago in the land of beauty (Adamawa state), in him are feats of leadership-naturally born leader, an individual with the right influence, inspiration, determination and self-discipline to become a solution to not only Adamawa State but Nigeria as a nation. He is Barr Aliyu Wakili Boya, the current House of Representatives (HoR) Lawmaker representing song Fufore constituency.
On 8th June, 1978, a genius was born amidst laughter and tears of joy in the family of Wakili Boya at Malabo, where the had Barr Aliyu Wakili Boya.A man that was earlier discovered by elders in Malabo is going to rewrite the history of Adamawa and to bring solutions to generations yet unborn.
Having undergone both the Islamic and western education with flying colours. Ali earned his first Degree in Law from the University of Maiduguri and proceeded to the Abuja Law School for the completion of his academic stride as a Barrister.
Young Ali took his law management skills to the business community, where he excelled in little time, resulting in a globetrot mark for him. Which in turn aided his business experience and political exposure.
Young Boya’s pre and post teenage activities are laced with classic political reach and giving comfort to the less privilege. It was therefore not surprising when the district head of Malabo recognised his greatness and decided to crown him with the special traditional title of ‘SARDAUNAN MALABO’. It is well to personified that the SARDAUNA title in all ramifications links to his selfless service to the people of Adamawa and beyond.
Like the proverbial lion that’s not afraid to face the impossible and take the maximum risk. In his youth, Ali contested election into the House of Representative in his constituency,losing out by giving his opponents a tough contest and the incumbent won the election by a narrow margin. It is at this junction that his political star began to shine among the contemporary politicians of his time.
Ali believes that no matter which ethnic group, race or religion we may belong to, our needs for help, acceptance and motivation remain the same across the globe. It is this believe that pushes him to continuously support and sponsor youths in education and all human endeavours across the state.
As a confirmation of his national political recognition, Wakili became the Senior Chief Legislative Aide one of the most respected politician in the National Assembly, Senator Bello Tukur.
His steady growth in political activism delineated his honesty, doggedness, hardwork and political focus, and this sway on his relentless support for the present administration led by Senator Muhammadu Umaru Jibrilla Bindow – an icon of transformation in Adamawa state.
With the coming of APC on board, the elders of the party recognised his good leadership qualities,mounted pressure on him to contest for Fofure Local Government Area election, which he won by a lanslide. Making him the new head of the biggest LGAs in the state in terms of land mass and population.
Knowing his political pedigree and credibility, the twenty one (21) LGAs chairmen in Adamawa state unanimously voted him as the chairman of Association of Local Governments in Nigeria (ALGON), a position his age wouldn’t have given him but wills and political maturity does.
Assuming office as the executive chairman of Fufore LGA is business as usual for this great man, in his two years of stewardship in office, the people of Furore felt the impact of his positive administration as he turned around the fortunes of the area through progressive project and human developmental initiatives.
Some of his great achievements are while a chairman of Fufore Local Government:
1.The modernisation of the old LGA Secretariat which was constructed in 1987 during the military era by Zainab Isabi.
2. A modern market in Fofure LGA headquarters of 61 shops and 11 convince places,named in memory of Yerima Aminu Ribadu.
3. The construction of a well modernise Cattle Market in Fufore
4. The construction of Goats Market
5. constructed a well standard Police Division in Fufore.
6. The construction of Primary school in Parta,Farang is one of it kind in Adamawa State.
7. He constructed 11 industrial Boreholes scattered across the LGA.
8. He distributed 187 Water pumps to farmers and over 5000 improved seeds were distributed.
9. Over 1000 scholarship to Decree and Diploma students was given to students of all the wards in the LGA.
10. Various Empowerment programs to Women and Youths was organised by Barr Boya
In a recent interview with some indigenes of the state in regards to his fast growing reputation as a selfless leader. Many of the people who spoke, are said that in an age characterized by an obvious dearth of selfless leaders, Ali had carved a niche for himself as a man of the people, a leader who has the best interest of his people at heart.
Having a steady focus of his political radar and his natural call of service to humanity.Boya widen up his philanthropical to the people of Adamawa central comprising of Hong,Gombi,Song,Girei,Yola North, Yola south and Fufore. Of recent he distributed:
1.Over 3,200 bags of fertilizers to All Progressives Congress (APC) Loyalists across the Central Senatorial district.
2. Less privileged students including the disabled in the central senatorial district their WAEC,NECO and JAMB were settled by Ali.
3. Over 5000 students enjoyed his scholarship program across the seven LGAs.
4.Donations of cars,motor cycles and Tricycles was some of his empowerment to people of the zone.
His people objective style of leadership has accrued unto him many awards from difference organizations in and outside the country. Some of the awards are:
1.Great Achiever, service to humanity, presented by Movement for better leaders,Abuja.
2.A merit Award by Nigerian Local government chairmen, for his emergence best performing local government Chairman in Nigeria.
3.Peace for sustainable development,a well deserve honour as Sarkin Matasa Adamawa.
4.Certificate of honour presented to Barr Aliyu Wakili Boya, Zonal Patron North East, Nigeria, Buhari friends organisation network.
The People energetic leader,Wakili Boya is presumed to have a dynamic Political life style who has emerged in the changing times of Adamawa state,whose political vibrancy and keen love of humanity had touched the heart of HRH Lamido of Adamawa, Dr Mustapha Aliyu Barkindo to crown him with the Honourable traditional tittle of “SARKIN MATASAN ADAMAWA EMIRATE “. The tittle “Sarkin matasa” implies Man of the people, lover of people, servant of the people,a voice to the voiceless,a Man who is loved by his people and the youth front ruler (Jagaba).
Many are looking and counting on him to be the number one man to join hands with the Executive Governor of the state for the continual revival of the state from total collapse as a result of bad governance from the previous administrations. And plans are in motion to achieve this desired objective as voices has since echoed out on him to go and be a voice of the masses at the National Assembly as a Lawmaker to represents the good people of Song and Fufore federal constituency of Adamawa central Senatorial zone.
This is found in him,the power to inspire people in all walks of life, a great gift that’s rarely seen on people. Great orators can and do change the world through simple words of honesty. They can speak simple and fundamental truths for all people and for all time. But it is not enough to simply convey a vision; you have to make firm politic decisions and get things done to realise that vision. This is exactly what Sardaunan Malabo has done all his political life.
For Ali Wakili it’s a story of how a man was groomed to be a selfless leader with an innate ability and concerted effort to reach that height. Neither quality on its own lead to that glory, it is his sheer believe in both nature and nurture with the power of nature primarily influential during his childhood years.
I have no doubt in my mind that Aliyu Barr Wakili Boya is out to redefine development and make history in Fofure and Song Local Government Areas of Adamawa state and Nigeria as a whole.
I am not trying to paint Sardaunan Malabu as a saint without any flaws. He had his own shortcomings too, after all to err is only human. There are a few things he did that could have been done in a better way. But if you are looking for a person close to perfection in politics and humanity, look no further than Barrister Aliyu Wakili Boya. He is really for the changing times, one of Adamawa State promising Young politician at this time that good leaders are hungered for.
Tom Garba fspsp, plsc, fimc, FBDFM
A Journalist who lives and writes from Jimeta-Yola Adamawa State