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
ASSADA is Senior Special Assistant to Governor Tambuwal and wrote this
piece from Sokoto.