Today, 10th January, 2021, marks another stepping stone into the diamond stage of life for Sokoto State Governor, Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, CFR, Mutawallen Sokoto, as he clocks 55. To many in the state, it is another milestone in the life of their political leader. They believe his emergence in the political arena has once redefined the state’s political stereotype.
Since he made a bold but visionary step into politics in 2003, Tambuwal’s successes in political leadership have been divine for many to learn, grow and benefit. As a new entrant in the House of Representatives then, Tambuwal’s leadership virtue was spotted which prompted his appointment to chair a Committee in the House. Upon his re-election to the House in 2007, he was also elected the Deputy Chief Whip.
Within the same period of his fresh parliamentary exposure, he was made the House Leader of the 6th National Assembly and eventually rose to become the Speaker of the House of Representatives against all odds in the 7th Assembly.
By the time he was leaving the Speakership position in 2014, there were two dual offers awaiting him. His colleagues in the House who were impressed by his leadership’s qualities collectively agreed to purchase his party’s presidential form for him. On the other hand electorates back home in Sokoto state are already waiting for him to take over the State’s mantle of leadership as their governor.
At this period, Tambuwal’s acceptability as presidential material has caught across the six geo-political zones while it was so rooted among his colleagues that resulted to a mild show of’ chanting him as the ‘real leader Nigeria’s deserved’ during a joint session of the National Assembly while the then incumbent President, Goodluck Jonathan was making his budget speech. But, for Tambuwal, he was not in a hurry to lead the country. His choice to leverage his selfless leadership at the state level by accepting to serve as the 6th democratically elected Governor of the caliphate was a surprise to many.
His motive, to the best of all, is to further master the role of leadership ahead of a greater opportunities laying in the future. This, he mastered diligently and now mentoring other progressives to grow in the same direction. Today, Tambuwal has set an unprecedented record his predecessors could not attain in the state by single-handedly dismantling the hierarchy of godfatherism in Sokoto politics.
To be specific, Tambuwal’s will be remembered as someone who liberated the state from the grids of an oligarchy-styled politician, Aliyu Wamakko whose has always claimed to have in his custody, Sokoto electorates’ decision in an election regardless of their political affiliations. This bold step has paved ways for Tambuwal to successfully commence the current developmental agenda ongoing in the state.
These projects are testimonies to these; the construction of THREE modern flyovers, construction of FOUR world-class hospitals (three premier hospitals and a teaching hospital) and construction of TWO dual carriage roads Waziri Abbas and Maituta which the initial figures symbolized his electoral winning magic numbers of 3-4-2 (THREE-FOUR-TWO).
By the end of 2022, when these ongoing projects will be completed, Tambuwal would no doubt set another unprecedented record that no governor of the state has achieved. He will emerged as the first-ever incumbent governor to have built a teaching hospital; first-ever governor to build TWO flyover bridges at a go, and first-ever governor to build ultra-modern Sport Arena. Already, Tambuwal has won for himself as first political icon that has not be invited or questioned to answer any corruption related claims or charges.
Just recently, the Governor Tambuwal won the heart of the World Bank as it grants the state a whopping sum $22 million for its commitment to the implementation of the State’s Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) program. Sokoto clinches the grant after its astronomical score in the program ranking from 2/5 in 2019 to 14/15 in 2020, which puts it among the top three states in the country to achieve such ranking.
Governor Tambuwal’s reforms effort, no doubt is a detour from business as usual paradox in the state over the past years. He is determined to ensure that the state is bequeathed with strong institutions for good governance. Alas, with these unprecedented strides in both legislative and executive leadership. Is there any candidate to lead this country out of insecurity, economy collapsed and bad governance than TAMBUWAL?
Reason; for all the contenders that had shown interest in taken a shot at the presidency in 2023, Tambuwal remains the youngest at 55 today, if checking how young leaders are performing across the world. He is set to be placed side by side with the likes of Emmanuel Macron of France and Kim Jong Un of North Korea among others.
Similarly, who could be better than Tambuwal in bridging the national unity between the North and South when put into cognizant his stewardship as Speaker of the House of Representatives? By Allah’s grace, Tambuwal will win the future presidential election
*** Kabir Assada is Senior Special Assistant to Governor Tambuwal and wrote this piece from Sokoto.
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