The Al-Makura magic in Ekiti
From time immemorial the towering position of Ado-Ekiti in the North-Eastern territory of Yorubaland has been anchored on the belief that Ado people possess the natural trait of being tough and fearless. Legend has it that “It is in the genes of Ado-Ekiti people to be warriors!” This is perhaps because Ado-Ekiti was strewn by […]
From time immemorial the towering position of Ado-Ekiti in the North-Eastern territory of Yorubaland has been anchored on the belief that Ado people possess the natural trait of being tough and fearless. Legend has it that “It is in the genes of Ado-Ekiti people to be warriors!” This is perhaps because Ado-Ekiti was strewn by the exploits of a warrior, Ewi (circa 1310AD), the son of Oduduwa who on account of his wanderings settled at Ulesun, conquered the community and displaced its ruler Elesun. Thereafter Ewi changed the name from Ulesun and established a new town which he named “ADO” meaning “Here we camp!”
This is the “camp” which became a respected kingdom that was expanded by force of arms and the sheer bravery of Ado-Ekiti people. But just as Ado-Ekiti people are renowned for being warriors, they are also reputed for great attention to cleanliness. There is a popular lyrical description of Ado citizenry which depicts: “IRA ULE ADO M’ETIPISE FIFIN SEREE” i.e. “Ado people with their usually high heels!” And today Ekiti State as a whole is revered in Nigeria as “the fountain of knowledge” because according to popular myth, “there is a professor in every household!” It is to this enlightened warriors and politically savvy people that the humble Governor of Nasarawa State, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura was sent to sift a single person to be the APC flag bearer from among 33 political gladiators, each of whom was eminently qualified to be Governor of Ekiti State during the recent APC Gubernatorial primaries which held in Ado-Ekiti.
Why was Umaru Tanko Al-Makura chosen to go where the brave dare not go? The wisdom of the APC in sending Al-Makura to Ekiti was informed by some singular attributes. Nasarawa State has for years been a hotbed of incessant communal clashes, farmer-herder conflicts and the marauding exploits of ethnic militia which climaxed into the nightmare of 2013 when over 77 security personnel were killed at the height of the Ombatse onslaught! Nasarawa State also sits on the tipping edge of religious politics where there is always a quick penchant for abrasive politicians to stoke divisive religious sentiment as a weapon for political campaigns.
In this combustible environment Al-Makura has been able to restore enduring peace through his unique model of community-based conflict resolution mechanism. In seven years he carved a niche for himself as a champion of inclusive governance and leadership that is anchored on transparency, national integration and fear of God. It is his exemplary mien as a peacemaker and his disposition as a just and equitable distributor of the dividends of good governance to ALL citizens in that has helped him to earn the trust of the divergent communities of Nasarawa State. Al-Makura, who on 21st of February 2015 was conferred with the award of “Most Transparent Governor in Nigeria” by Foundation for Transparency & Accountability, is also widely recognized within and outside the APC fold as a “miniature Buhari” and a stickler for integrity, rule of law, accountability and exactitude in government.
In choosing Al-Makura as umpire of APC governorship polls in Ekiti, the party headquarters also considered the fact that within seven years, his efforts to nurture a deep sense of social trust and national integration among people of different ethnic origins in Nasarawa State earned him the prestigious award of Zik Prize for Leadership. during his investiture as Leadership Politician of The Year 2014, Leadership Newspapers stated, “Umaru Tanko Al-Makura’s unprecedented achievements on behalf of the common man has spurred a deep sense and resolve in the minds of ordinary people of Nasarawa State to defend his office as governor and by extension the institution of democratic politics in the face of coercion… That is why the masses revolted and stood by their beloved Governor Tanko Al-Makura even after the ninth attempt by former legislators in the erstwhile State House of Assembly to impeach him!”
So, APC chose an upright statesman and a transparent, people-oriented party leader who had a natural inclination for integrity; and a time-tested resilience to politics of turbulence; to journey into the volcanic hills of Ekiti and conduct the sort of transparent primaries that brought out the best among 33 contenders. On his part Al-Makura went up the Ado-Ekiti hills twice. The first attempt was a false start but the second was adjudged by APC’s National Chairman John Oyegun as “the most clinically executed party primaries ever conducted in the annals of Nigeria’s political history!” Oyegun also said, “By this singular example of unassailable transparency, Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura has wiped the tears of APC and pointed the party towards victory in the July governorship election!”
Umaru Tanko Al-Makura’s diplomacy, maturity and insistence on fairness to all contenders, anchored on a voting process that left no space for manipulation, ensured that the results were accepted by all 33 contenders and it strengthened APC’s unity in Ekiti. Now that President Muhammadu Buhari has charged APC the Southwest to rally round and support the party’s flag bearer Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the stage is set for a battle royale to “reclaim the land and restore (our) values.” The values which make Ekiti State Nigeria’s fountain of knowledge.
Lamai is SSA, Public Affairs & Media Strategy to the Governor of Nasarawa State