Senator Adamu at 76: Portrait of a bridge builder

Tukura Matthew In Africa, it is believed that age is just a number that does not count on a person’s performance, hence, most leaders in the continent are above 70 years, yet they justified their leadership position; suffice to mention some notable leaders who were above 70 years old when they became president in their […]

Tukura Matthew

In Africa, it is believed that age is just a number that does not count on a person’s performance, hence, most leaders in the continent are above 70 years, yet they justified their leadership position; suffice to mention some notable leaders who were above 70 years old when they became president in their various countries.

In South Africa, Nelson Mandela, who fought the evils of apartheid, imprisoned for 27 years, came out of prison on 11th February 1990 and became president in 1994 at the age of 75 years.

Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe who died at the age of 95 championed the cause that rescued his country from white dominance, especially on land-ownership. He led his country to independence in 1980.

Back home, President Muhammadu Buhari was above 70 when he became president and some presidential flag bearers for the 2023 general elections are above 70 years.

Older people seem to have a better experience in leadership; that was why when the ruling party (APC) held its convention to elect party officials at the national level, the party thought it wise to elect somebody who has vast experience in politics that can pilot the affairs of the party well. After a thorough search, the party reached a consensus and Abdullahi Adamu was elected its National Chairman.

Though Adamu is 76, he has the experience and strong-will to deliver the party’s mandate, for age is not a barrier but just a number.

No doubt, the National Chairman is a bridge builder and that is why before the party’s convention, he was appointed Chairman, APC reconciliation committee with the mandate to reconcile aggrieved members of the party.  He travelled round the country to execute the mandate assigned to his committee. The committee’s work gave an insight into the party’s problems and how these problems can be resolved.

Apart from being a bridge builder, he is also a peacemaker.

When he was governor, there were instances when his convoy was stoned but as a matured politician and leader, his reaction was “I cannot do anything against this kind of young people; they don’t know what they are doing.”

Today, the Turakin Keffi and Aare Obateru of the source Ile-Ife is 76 years old; that early trait of good leadership manifested in him, giving him national and international acceptance.

As the first democratically elected governor of the state, he laid structures which his predecessors are now building on for a better Nasarawa State. He established the Nasarawa State University Keffi in 2000; State Polytechnic Lafia; College of Health Technology Keffi; School of Nursing and Midwifery Lafia; and increased the number of   secondary schools in the state from 91 to 220.

Like Mungo Park who wanted to discover the source of River Niger, Adamu discovered Farin Ruwa falls; a sight to behold and brought it to international limelight.

His bold leadership and purposeful administration repositioned the state on the part of progress.

The peaceful atmosphere and good human relations Adamu created in the state fetched him and the state wide circle of friends across the globe. World leaders including two former presidents of the United States of America – Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter; Queen Elizabeth II; former U.S Ambassador to Nigeria, Howard F. Jetter; and Pastor Mark Craig all visited the state during his tenure as governor.

Alhaji Ahmadu Tanko who was his headmaster in Laminga Senior Primary School said: “I was Headmaster when Adamu passed through the school from 1957 to 1959. I recalled that Abdullahi Agwada as he was then called was a very popular pupil with a wide circle of friends inclusive of his seniors. He used to talk and argue a lot with friends but never at any time fought anyone in the school. Abdullahi still exhibits good qualities as in his childhood years. Up till today, Abdullahi comes to my house and pays respect to his master despite his exalted position as former governor. Go to his house and farm in Keffi, you will find his mates enjoying talking with him as they used to do at Laminga.”

Senator Adamu, a Muslim, mingles with people of different faith; has circle of friends and political followers across the country.

In 2005, when the renovation of the National Mosque Abuja became necessary, he was appointed chairman of the committee for the renovation, a task he successfully executed. 

When the Rivers State Government and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) organized a special inter-denominational funeral service in honour of the victims of the Sosoliso plane crash at the Port-Harcourt International Airport Omagwa, on Saturday 10th December 2005, Adamu was in attendance; this is an example of his religious tolerance and respect for human life.

His religious tolerance could also be attested to by his appointments when he was governor. For example, he appointed five Muslims and five Christians as his Special Advisers in September 2003.

Adamu ventured into politics when he was a student at the Kaduna Polytechnic, he contested and won the president of the institution’s Students Union Government 1967/1968. He was at the same time the national vice president of the National Association of Nigeria students.

He was a pioneer active member of the National Movement that metamorphosed to the National Party of Nigeria NPN from 1979-1983. He became the state secretary of the party in Plateau State in 1978 and later its chairman in 1982-83. He was elected to the post independence constitutional conference in 1977, a body that drafted the 1979 constitution.

In 1994, because of his vast experience, Senator Adamu was again appointed to the national conference by General Sani Abacha, thus Adamu has been involved twice in the writing of two constitutions for Nigeria.

In March 1995, he was appointed Minister of State in the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing by General Abacha, a position he held until 17th November 1997.

When the ban on politics was lifted by the military authorities, Adamu was a leading gubernatorial aspirant under the platform of United Nigeria Congress Party UNCP but at the death of Abacha, the political structures in the country were suspended.

When the new military regime under General Abdulsalam Abubakar blew the whistle on partisan politics, Adamu was back on track with the same ambition. He contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a party that he was a founding member and won the governorship election convincingly on 9th January 1999 and took the oath of office on 29th May 1999 as the first civilian governor of Nasarawa State.      

A barrister-at-law, his life speaks volumes at 76. In recognition for his service to humanity, Adamu has received high profile traditional titles from respected royal fathers across the country. Some of these titles are Turakin-Keffi; Aare-Obateru of the source Ile-Ife; Teruru of Owu Kingdom; Onana Attah Igala; Odenigbo 1 of Igbo land; Zanna Dawuma of Borno; Oloto (peace maker) of Agwada; Dan-Madamin Eggon; and Ada-weji of Afo nation.