Quite often people resort to merriment and chest-beating functions as a way of counting the period of their sojourn on earth. For some celebrating birthdays means to gather family members and well-wishers to reminisce about personal opportunities life has provided, while for some it is time to embark on philanthropy as a way of giving back some of the divine bounties. And still more, are the characters of those providence thrust leadership upon. The latter are most significant in the estimation of citizens because of exposure to management of common wealth. A leader that embarks on squandering scarce resources for personal aggrandisement in celebration excites gnashing of teeth of the citizens, and woe to such leader if services rendered are not commensurate to public expectations. Their prayers are a curse against the leader. But it is all hurray for an achiever that performed creditably in the service to the people. Such an achiever shies away from pomp and ceremony associated with birthday parties.
We situate Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko (Sarkin Yamman) with humility in life effervescent. This is in contrast to flamboyant and selfish life style of others that live remotely away from the people, especially the grassroots. For Governor Wamakko at 62 the question remains counting services to the people as they concern improvement of their living standard. Followers of Governor Wamakko’s administration would roundly attest that he tremendously impacted positively on the masses of Sokoto. He is seen as a leader very much in a hurry to leave more development marks in the sands of Sokoto State. He, therefore, looks and celebrates life through listening to statistics of people’s acknowledgement of his stewardship. He solicits for prayers to do more.
All his life it has been service to the people, as a civil servant and as politician. His youth was characterized by articulate leadership geared towards consensus building among folks for a common purpose. It manifested in various headship positions he held during his school days. In the civil service, he exercised carrot and stick leadership style, with colossal results in management of human and material resources. That leadership approach spewed admirers and supporters that eventually bolstered his political ambition. He served as deputy governor for seven years and remained less polemical. Indeed, he won the heart of many in the northwest geo-polity of Nigeria, and of course the entire nation for his huge tolerance. As a highly principled man, he remained consistent in political followership and leadership. He has always worked hard to exhaust peaceful means to contentious issues which makes him enviable party loyalist. His friendship transcends every narrow sentiment, which makes him to take everybody as a brother or sister. He is a true nationalist who believes in opportunities for every Nigerian. And as an educationist he strongly believes education to be the right of every child.
Consequently, on assumption of office he abolished discriminatory school fees and pays examinations fees (WAEC, NECO, NABTEB) of every child in Sokoto school system. He demonstrated commitment to the Nigerian nationhood through the school integrative gesture that guarantees affordable education to every child. Indeed, the Federal Executive Council in 2012 voted a unanimous appreciation as conveyed through the media by Minister of Interior, Abba Moro. It was acknowledgement of a true nationalist.
While Governor Wamakko would enjoin prayers for good health and long life his celebration is legacy he would leave in improvement of education as a veritable tool to empower the youth who are future leaders of this country. He relishes with utmost satisfaction the huge number of the youth that benefits from different empowerment programs. The programs have provided employment to the boys and girls that now contribute to the economy. Governor Wamakko celebrates numerous roads across the state that opened up interconnectivity of towns and villages for movement of people and goods. This has empowered farmers in fair prices for their produce. Governor Wamakko’s administration makes the farmers to celebrate yearly in richness through government dispensing of cash loans, farm inputs and implements. Water reservoirs have been provided for cattle grazing, and water from the dam has been channelled to the advantage of the farmers for all season cultivation.
Governor Wamakko celebrates provision of better life in rural areas through supplies of electricity, water, and superb management of health care delivery services. Focus on the rural areas never neglected the urban centres. There is much more improvement in the management of public transport system with addition of more vehicles to the fleet. That has stimulated easy and cheap transport system across the state, Alu Yagode (Aliyu appreciates). The State Capital has transformed to modern city with aesthetic effects of a flyover Bridge at strategic location. The commercial activities of the state have picked up so much that citizens express confidence in the economy through greater investment participation. The 30 mega watts Independent Power Project (IPP) shall aid industrial growth of the state. Governor Wamakko is also celebrating impact on boosting the morale of the civil service through various motivational dynamics, which include regular payment of pensions. The less privileged have been provided for through regular payment of allowances. The religious life of the citizens as a culture receives adequate attention through building of mosques and Islamayyiya schools. Governor Wamakko has maintained the Ramadan fast feeding scheme since the last seven years. The Almajirai integrated system of education is a brain child of Governor Wamakko. The scheme has achieved tremendous success in implementation, and the state is gratified as a torch bearer of the scheme which is being applied in the northern Nigeria by the federal government.
Governor Wamakko is celebrating 62 years on 1st March in full satisfaction of fulfilling life’s ambition to positively affect lives. It is a mission accomplished. But the prayers now centre on longer life to help the total growth of humanity, especially his constituents. And this is the instigation for an electoral shot for senate. The good people of Sokoto are optimistic that his aspiration to continue his excellent performance at the senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a done deal. Citizens of Sokoto State are aware that he shall provide the same leadership at the National Assembly where he is sure to mobilize for national unity and general progress.
We offer our prayers for his continued good health and long life for more service to mankind.
Muhammed Kabir Hassan
North-West Coalition of Professional Patriots
No 87 Gidan Dare
Western Bye Pass Road
Sokoto
