Senator Tanko Umar Al-Makura is one Nigeria’s finest politicians of all times. The senator of the Federal Republic, representing Nasarawa South Senatorial District, is no doubt one of Nigeria’s prominent and revered politicians.
His tenure as a two-term governor of Nasarawa state, North central Nigeria, from 2011 to 2019 has become a reference point in purposeful governance not just in the North central zone but also in the country at large. Indeed, if we go into the databank of the innovative and impactful positive changes that Umaru Al-Makura brought into the political and developmental landscape of Nasarawa state, many would agree that indeed the man is a phenomenon.
Dr. Tanko Al-Makura is one of the very few governors in Nigeria today that has been severally described by political observers during their tenures as rebels in the government house because of their unusual leadership styles. He is a proponent of the new type of leadership dispensation in our country that emphasises merit as the basic requirement in the leadership recruitment process in Nigeria.
Although Dr Al-Makura is a Nigerian politician, he belongs to a different breed of the Nigerian political class who sees politics not as an end in itself but as a means of bringing the greatest goods to the greatest number of people in society. Because of his unusual type of politics, he has been labeled as an accidental politician severally in the country.
A transparent and unbelievably honest individual, Al-Makura is no attention-seeker or opportunist but a die in the wood Buharist who believes in pragmatic and visionary leadership.
Al-Makura sees politics as a means of providing service to society. His exemplary performance in office has been recommended to the nation’s politicians as a typical demonstration that in Nigeria it is still possible to see politicians who place society above self.
His phenomenon comes from his creation of pockets of efficiencies in government in the midst of daunting decays or pockets of ethical stands in the midst of scoundrels.
Unlike many politicians in our clime, Al-Makura evinces the belief that governance is more serious business than government. This governance philosophy he emphasises always.
The fornwer governor was not one to abandon a policy because of second term politics and has never lived an ostentatious lifestyle in and out of government. He is imbued with the virtues of honesty and love of the poor and vulnerable in the society. Dr Al-Makura’s philosophy is simply others before self and humanism all encapsulated in the principles of humanism. His best guiding principles are to dispense justice to all, to do what is right at all times and love the indigent.
This philosophy has inculcated him a frugal life which he brought to play in his administration of Nasarawa state. It was prudent spending that made him to implement the cardinal programmes of his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC. Some of these programmes include free and qualitative education at all levels, free health care delivery, maximum and qualitative rural development and full gainful employment to all and sundry.
Two traits stand out Al-Makura among governors and politicians alike – his frugality with government funds and putting others before self. This twin traits or quality came after his ascetic lifestyle which gives little or no room to flagrant display of wealth or the life of opulence.
Dr. Al-Makura is a man more sinned against than a sinner. He is a very loyal party man who believes in party supremacy and the rule of law rather than the rule of man. His humane and courteous disposition has qualified him as the best man to move APC forward as a political party. He is not infallible, but he is a man who is ready to defend what he believes in. Senator Al-Makura believes in the APC as the platform to move Nigeria to greater heights.
Al-Makura’s unflinching devotion to duty and his translucent love for his country foster happiness among his people. The lessons of Al-Makura’s politics are depicted in that great book by Henry Longfellow, who wrote in the Reaper and the Flowers, reminds us that we can make our life sublime.
Al-Makura as the national chairman of the ruling APC would bring all the foregoing enviable and laudable traits to bear on the development of the party and Nigeria at large.
Wada writes from Abuja via 08035937424.
