Hon. Keftin Amuga Celebrates General T.Y. Danjuma at 87, Urges Him to Take a More Active National Leadership Role
State Correspondent
Gombe, Nigeria – A leading voice in the Middle Belt region, Hon. Keftin Amuga, has issued a powerful birthday tribute to retired military general and elder statesman, General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, on the occasion of his 87th birthday. In a strongly worded statement released in Gombe, Amuga—who is the Gombe State Chairman of the Middle Belt Forum and a former Labour Party gubernatorial candidate—praised General Danjuma’s decades-long contributions to national unity, patriotism, and principled leadership.
Amuga described the retired general as “a leader and mentor par excellence” whose influence continues to shape the nation. He celebrated Danjuma’s longevity and enduring relevance, declaring that “the best is yet to come” for both the statesman and Nigeria as a whole.
Reflecting on Danjuma’s political history, Amuga recalled the formation of the People’s Solidarity Party (PSP) in 1989, crediting the general with inspiring a generation of leaders committed to justice and national cohesion. He emphasized that age should not limit political participation, noting that several of Danjuma’s contemporaries—such as former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari, as well as President Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar—remain active in national politics.
Amuga argued that Danjuma’s ideology, which he described as more inclusive and justice-oriented than that of other elder statesmen, is urgently needed to address Nigeria’s current security and governance crises. He reiterated his earlier claim that Nigeria might have avoided today’s insecurity challenges had Danjuma accepted the presidency in 1976.
According to Amuga, the threats posed by extremist groups—including ISWAP, bandits, and armed herders—require Danjuma’s renewed engagement in national affairs. He urged the general to move beyond the role of kingmaker and take on a more direct leadership position to help “re-subdue the oppressors and restore sovereignty to our ethnic nationalities.”
He lamented that despite Danjuma’s role in influencing the rise of several past leaders—including Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, Buhari, and Tinubu—the nation remains beset by economic difficulty and worsening insecurity. “God has preserved your life for such a time as this,” Amuga declared, calling on Danjuma to steer the Middle Belt Forum toward ideological and patriotic leadership that could serve as a blueprint for national renewal.
The statement concluded with heartfelt birthday wishes and a call to action, portraying Danjuma as a beacon of hope for a more united and prosperous Nigeria.
“May your light shine ever brighter,” Amuga wrote, “guiding us through the storms to a brighter dawn.”
