When tribute is paid to a total stranger
Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko celebrated his 64 birthday on 1st March 2017. From 1999 to date, he has remained a reference point in the annals of Sokoto State and Nigerian politics. It’s an indisputable fact that the seasoned administrator-turned-politician has always remained on the side of the people and history. Alu, as he is fondly […]
Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko celebrated his 64 birthday on 1st March 2017. From 1999 to date, he has remained a reference point in the annals of Sokoto State and Nigerian politics. It’s an indisputable fact that the seasoned administrator-turned-politician has always remained on the side of the people and history. Alu, as he is fondly called by his followers, is one of the politicians who has generated much attention. Among those he has mentored, many today occupy important offices at state and federal level.
At this juncture, I should point out that I have never met Senator Wamakko in my life, technically making him a total stranger to me. But through one of my seniors, and a friend of Wamakko for many decades, I got to hear about this exemplary politician and statesman. He is no ordinary politician; he is a master political strategist and tactician, as I’ve been led to believe, a man who understood people, and the game of politics. Widely believed to be the centre of Sokoto politics, he has been scrutinized and analyzed by his adversaries for more than 10 years. For these, and many more reasons, I decided to pick up my figurative pen.
The Wamakko factor in Sokoto politics is still potent, and it is almost certainly because of his many positive traits, which have endeared him to his people. While taking into cognisance of his contributions — and shortcomings — as a governor, just as every leader, his scorecards is certainly impressive, making his name remain vibrant among the Sakkwatawas.
Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, who is Senator Wamakko’s successor in office, must be commended for refusing to fall into the cheap trap of those who want to see them part ways. The cordial working relationship and political bond between both of them is testament to political maturity, loyalty and leadership qualities which both of them are endowed with.
As I researched more, I saw that he was born on 1st March 1953 in Wamakko town, headquarters of Wamakko Local Government of Sokoto State and his first contact with scholarship started with Islamic education at a tender age. He had his primary education at Magajin Gari Ward and Wamakko Primary School from January 1960 to December 1967 where he obtained his Primary School Certificate. From January 1968 to November 1972 he was at famous Sokoto Teachers College where he obtained his Grade II Certificate. In his quest for further education, Senator Wamakko was at University of Pittsburgh, U.S.A. from 1977 to 1980 where he bagged Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) and PGD in Public Administration.
Senator Wamakko started his working career as a classroom teacher from January 1973 to May 1973 at Sanyinna Primary School, Yabo ADB. He was headmaster at Yar’Abba Primary School, Sokoto (Sokoto ADB) from June 1973 to December 1973, Mobile Teacher Trainer M.T.T. (Sokoto ADB) 1977. From January 1981 to October 1981, he did his National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) compulsory assignment at Sokoto Teachers College. Senator Wamakko was at a various time Principal Assistant Secretary and Acting Secretary of Zurmi Local Government (now in Zamfara State) 1981 to 1982. From 1984 to 1986 he served as Principal Assistant Secretary and Sole Administrator Kaura Namoda Local Government (now in Zamfara State).
Senator Wamakko, from June 1987 to April 1988, served as the Chairman and Under Secretary of Sokoto Local Government Council and Sokoto State Local Government Service Commission, going on to have a varied and deep career, eventually going into politics and he became Deputy Governor of Sokoto State on 29th May 1999 and was re-elected in the same position in 2003. He voluntarily resigned as Deputy Governor of Sokoto State on 15th March 2006. He was elected Executive Governor of Sokoto State on the platform of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in April 2007. The election was later nullified by Appeal Court which orders a rerun and he was overwhelmingly elected as the Executive Governor and was sworn in on 28th May 2008 for fresh mandates which he re-contested for the governorship in 2011 and was re-elected.
In 2014, he was one of the sturdy voices of the G7 New (PDP) Governors alongside five of them with whom he later decamped to All Progressive Congress (APC) in 2014, a precisely accurate and courageous decision which he took and later contributed to the victory of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Sokoto State and Nigeria in the 2015 general elections where he vied and was elected as a Senator. Currently, he is the Senate Committee Chairman on Primary and Secondary Education. Sokoto State during his tenure as governor witnessed lot of development projects, including road dualization, construction of flyovers, establishment of a state university, and much, much more. He is a recipient of a honorary Doctorate Degree of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, a recipient of the Commander of Order of Niger (CON) national honour, and he holds the traditional title of Sarkin Yamman Sokoto. He is happily married with children. Many happy returns, sir.
Yahaya wrote from Minna, Niger State.