Pantami, People and the Politics of Crowdfunding -By Muhammad Auwal Ibrahim

History is repeating itself again. In 2014, Nigerians came together and raised campaign funds for perhaps the most loved Nigerian politician of the time, the late General Muhammadu Buhari, who would later become President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Nigerians of all ages, classes, professions, regions and ethnic groups donated towards his presidential bid with the belief that he would transform the country if elected.

The funds were paid into his famous First Bank account where millions were reportedly raised. It is a well-known story for Nigerians old enough to remember the 2015 elections or those who read history.

The pattern resurfaced in the 2023 elections when residents of Kano rallied around Abba Kabir Yusuf, popularly known as Abba Gida Gida, who had contested in 2019 but lost. Reports said nearly N500 million was crowd-sourced for his governorship bid, reflecting the enormous goodwill he commanded.

Like Buhari, about N500 million was reportedly crowd-sourced for his governorship race in Kano State. This clearly demonstrated how loved he was in his home state and how eager people were to experience his style of leadership.

Today, that too has become part of history. Abba Kabir Yusuf is now the incumbent governor of Kano State under the ruling All Progressives Congress, following his defection from NNPP in 2026.

History aside, something similar appears to be unfolding in Gombe. The teeming youths of Gombe State and to some extent northern Nigeria, have come together within 48 hours and raised over N50 million to purchase a governorship nomination form for Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, who is eyeing and/or being urged to seek political office in Gombe.

This development has generated mixed reactions, not only across the state but beyond, particularly from those who argue that some leaders previously buoyed by public goodwill eventually disappointed their supporters.

As expected, Pantami trended on Facebook, with comments coming from all and sundry.

These young people have claimed they are doing this out of gratitude, to show love for someone they describe as a life changer who facilitated opportunities for them, including what they call mouth-watering jobs in federal agencies. They may not be wrong.

Pantami secured some of the highest federal appointments for Gombe indigenes in NCC, NITDA, Galaxy Backbone, NIMC, and elsewhere. To attest to this, staff in the Nigerian Communications Commission and National Information Technology Development Agency reportedly employed through his influence contributed N15 million as a show of gratitude.

But what many people are asking is this: Is Pantami out of funds to finance his political ambition? The answer is clearly no.

As far as public records show, he did not solicit these donations. That is what distinguishes this from Buhari’s famous public fundraising appeal in 2014.

What stands out for me is something else: how he appears to have invested in young people when he had the opportunity.

I am not sure if there is any candidate in Gombe for whom young people would contribute their hard-earned income in millions, up to N50 million and still counting, simply to purchase a nomination form. I am also not sure if there is any candidate in Gombe who has received this kind of love.

Indeed, across Nigeria as a whole, I struggle to recall how many politicians have inspired a similar gesture from youths.

And I am not talking about friends and wealthy associates who contribute huge sums to finance campaigns. That is normal. It is almost expected.

I am talking about ordinary young people contributing their hard-earned income. For ordinary young people to do this voluntarily, it says something about what he means to them and how they value him.

I like it when I see young productive people. Had many of these youths not been empowered in meaningful ways, what would they be doing today? If they had been used merely as political thugs or other productive ventures, where would they find the means to raise such sums?

At this juncture, there is a lesson here for politicians. Surround yourself with educated and serious-minded people who can support, challenge and guide you if you get into office. Surround yourself with unserious people, and face the consequences when it backfires. Recent events in Kano should remind us of that.

Beyond all this, the episode also says something about the power of skills and knowledge. Without education and competence, many of these people may never have been empowered with decent-paying jobs that now make them economically independent.

I often say this: if you want to play politics seriously, go to school. It matters. Education shapes style, policy thinking and leadership temperament.

I remember someone in our community once told me that educated people carry a sense of future and avoid actions that can destroy it. That’s why it’s hard to see a graduate acting as a political thug.

That thought has stayed with me.

Yet critics have their own argument. They say politicians lifted by popular fundraising often end up disappointing those who believed in them, or begin to act as though they did people a favour. According to them, Buhari is often cited as a classical example. I can also now point to the political backlash facing Abba Gida Gida over recent choices he has made.

Nevertheless, history repeats itself in strange ways. And now the question lingering in my mind is this: Will Pantami be different from those two major scenarios?

Muhammad Auwal Ibrahim is an independent investigative journalist based in Gombe. He can be reached via awwalbinibrahim@gmail.com