For his unalloyed commitment and loyalty to Governor Bello Masari, Katsina state deputy governor, Mannir Yakubu, has paid the price for higher appointments and responsibilities as HAMIDU SABO reports.
It is generally believed that loyalty as a virtue is not a choice but a bond especially since leaders everywhere in the world are ordained by God and entails responding to the plight of the people.
Even though leaders being humans have their short-comings, it is expedient for them to command loyalty especially from their immediate lieutenants. This is even as Allah, the creator says, “If you thank me, I will add blessing onto you.”
To that extent therefore, there is no doubt whoever remains thankful in whatever endeavour receives more blessing from God and appreciation from the people.
As a worthy example
In Katsina state, that scenario is playing out at the moment. For those following the political developments in the state most especially from the inception of the All Progressive Congress (APC)-led administration in the state, they would accept the fact that QS Mannir Yakubu, the current deputy governor of the state can be described any day as a reliable ally because of his unalloyed loyalty to his boss, Aminu Bello Masari, the executive governor of the state. Available records indicate that Yakubu has never for any reason disobeyed the decision of Governor Masari most especially when it comes to moving the state forward. That is however not equivalent to what nay sayers may describe as blind loyalty.
Investigation by Blueprint shows that among his supporters, their observation is that Mannir considers respect above every other virtue.
“As the most important element of his personality trait, Mannir considers respect like an investment in which one likens it to getting back whatever one sows even with a profit,” says an aide who preferred to be anonymous.
Masari applauds
According to this source, even Governor Masari had at different fora expressed his happiness about the cordial working relationship with his deputy. Therefore, this among other reasons is why the deputy governor was appointed to act in many capacities, for instance, as the state commissioner of agriculture; chairman Covid-19 Emergency Response Committee; chairman Small and Medium Enterprise Agency; chairman Katsina State Tenders Board and chairman Katsina Health Care Board.
Interestingly, there are no single records of failure from the assignment given to him right from inception to date as he keeps showing firm support and allegiance in administering affairs of the state.
As a result of this, most of the political analysts in the state described him as a leader who is available and eager to reach out to help those in need. He is also considered as someone who cannot simply sit down to enjoy the comfort of his office like every other top government official does; rather, he acts in the spirit of selfless service on behalf of the people. In fact, Mannir, as he is popularly called in the state, identifies himself with all classes of people and their burdens as he offers services to both the rich and the poor.
Report card from aide
In a chat with his media aide, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Kallah, he said, “My boss sees a burden and works tirelessly until the burden is removed and light is experienced in the dark tunnels of life.”
According to many, Mannir is the type of leader Katsina needs to have in the near future since he is a leader who is zealous for the sake of the people; in fact, such a leader has a passionate belief in the greatness of the people since he is extremely enthusiastic about the positive future of Katsina people.
According to Kallah, “Mannir has passion for success, passion for quality, a passion for loving the people, for serving the people and identifying with the people in their individual and corporate experiences. In fact, Mannir has passion for achieving the best for the people in all areas of life.
“It is now time for Katsina people to understand that the successful management of political mandate is not a matter of trial and error like the other top government representatives, but of the implementation of a master plan, involving a clearly defined agenda, consisting of well-thought out principles of specific actions that are designed to produce positive results like the presents restoration agenda in Katsina state. Even Mahdi Shehu has never for once accused or insulted the deputy governor for any act of wrongdoing in his over 200 wrongly or unwrongly submission, with named calling.
“There is a need to focus on political mandate since it is not a social contract, but a covenant relationship of joint ownership of power and joint participation in the service rendered to humanity and to God ultimately,” Kallah submitted.
It is well known today that political authority is of the people by the people and for the people unlike other top government in the present APC administration in Katsina who in one way or the other encourages division among political vendors and journalists, Mannir respects everyone and resolves issues involving the bandwagon politicians and to some extent considers journalists as partners in progress.
Political analysts are of the views that today in Katsina, it is expedient to note that any politician sincerely committed to the cultivation and promotion of quality living standard for the citizens and equally dedicated to ensuring unity, peace and holistic development at all levels must provide trust or accept the movement of Qs Mannir Yakubu for 2023 since democracy is not a political system for politically juan-diced and people with half-baked understanding of their political duties, rights and privileges. Mannir is a politician who always believes in doing the right things at the right time.
His biography
Mannir Yakubu was born in Katsina and is the first deputy governor elected twice from Katsina metropolitan. He has his early Islamic education in the tradition of his forefathers, Malam Ladan family of Tsohuwar Kasuwar Quarters in Katsina. He entered Rafin Dadi Primary School in 1961 and Barewa College Zaria in 1968. He obtained Grade I WASC and proceeded to the School of Basic Studies (SBS) Zaria. He read Quantity Survey at ABU and graduated in 1977. After his mandatory national youth service in Imo State, he worked with QU-ESS partners as senior quantity surveyor.
In October 1979 precisely, Mannir ventured into politics and when the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) won the election and late Balarabe Musa became the governor of then Kaduna state, he was made principal secretary to the deputy governor, Alh Abba Musa Rimi.
Mannir, a fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Quantity Surveyors (FNIQS), contested for the Katsina Central Senatorial Seat in 2003 and 2007 under the All Nigeria People Party (ANPP), He was a gubernatorial aspirant in 2011 under Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). Today in Katsina, there is no matching politician in terms of loyalty, integrity , honesty and dedication, within or outside the government circle than Mannir. In many quarters, without any scandal over the years, he is being touted as the best candidate for the Katsina Government House in 2023.
