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‘Why history must be fair to Al-Makura’

If records of service is anything to go by as reward quotient, the immediate past governor of Nasarawa state is someone who the cap fits for the position of APC national chairman. Writes MUAZU ABARI.

The All progressives Congress (APC) seems at a cross road with so many internal divisions especially as the party is currently in search of who leads the party as it’s national chairman in its forthcoming national convention.Although so many political juggernauts such as former Govs Ali Modu Sherriff, Clement Ebri, Abdulaziz Yari, Sen Kashim Shettima  and the immediate past governor of Nasarawa state, Sen Tanko Al-makura, among others, indicated interest to lead the party but most political analysts believe that what the party needs is a strong and visionary leadership with the needed political capacity to heal all wounds and refocus the party.
It is therefore, not surprising that the name of Al-Makura continues to reverberate as the most suitable candidate to lead the party.

Stakeholders and groups  within the APC have continued to throw their weights behind Al-makura’s candidature with Gov Sule in the forefront contrary to practices where sitting governors were always opposed to having the national chairman from their own state.
While flagging up APC membership revalidation exercise in the state in Gudi,  Gov Sule said.

“If Nigeria would be kind to CPC, Nasarawa state is the only place to look at.Today is history for us in Gudi station and I think for the rest of the life of Gudi station, this is a very special day. Gudi had always identified with distinguished Sen Umaru Tanko Al-Makura the architect of modern Nasarawa state from the time he brought CPC, the only state as part and parcel of the alliance that formed APC today.”

Also speaking, Professor Mohammed Mainoma said, “The contributions of Tanko Al-Makura at the national sphere is commendable. It was in Nasarawa state that the real Buhari agenda was implemented. It was what made the nation to become more convinced to accept Buhari as a leader.The actual implementation of CPC agenda in Nasarawa state has cleared the minds of skeptics as to the capacity of the new party to do magic. It was therefore easy after the merger for people to have confidence in APC. Indeed, Nasarawa became the laboratory for APC.

A group known as APC  Young Stakeholder’s Forum in the North-central also endorsed Al-Makura’s bid to lead the party as it’s national chairman. In a press statement signed by the group’s publicity secretary, Abdulrahman  Andoma Ahmed, parts of it reads, “Sen Al-Makura has the capacity and needed experience to stabilise the wobbling ship of our great party and stear it to the expected destination. Also worthy of note is the fact that Al-Makura is a true party man with a full grasp of the dynamic of party politics at the national level, having served in various capacities and committees with such pedigree and high credentials. We believe if given the mandate to lead our great party for the next four years, Al-Makura would  bring his political acumen to reorganise the party in line with the dreams and expectations of its founding fathers.”
His political career and experiences
Sen Al-Makura represents a symbol of hope and emancipation in Nigerian politics whose determination to the cause of democracy, humanity, good governance  and love for common man anchored on fairness, equity and justice preceded his emergenced as governor in 2011.

Suffice it to say that his political career started from his secondary school days through tertiary institutions where he served as a public relations officer (PRO) of the Students Union Government (SUG) at the Federal College of Education Uyo in Akwa Ibom state and represented the institution at the national executive committee of the then National Union of Nigerian Students (NUNS).
This politics followed him to the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University Zaria when he was elected into the students representatives Assembly (SRA), a legislative organ of SUG after which he graduated to pursued his life endeavours and continued with real politics making him a man of many parts: a politician, teacher, journalist and a successful business man.
Two years after, he ventured into active politics and emerged state youth leader of the defunct National party of Nigeria (NPN) in the old Plateau state which automatically made him a member of the party’s National Executive Committee where he performed credibly well. He later got elected into the  House of Representatives to representing Lafia/Obi federal constituency in the Second Republic.

In the aborted Third Republic, Al-Makura identified with the National Republican convention (NRC) and subsequently became the state secretary of the party. With the restoration of democracy in 1999, he continued to play critical roles in the politics of the country and the state. Having become dissatisfied with the performance of PDP especially in Nasarawa state and due to his shared vision with Buhari, Al-Makura dumped the party for CPC to and hands with Buhari. His defection to CPC was a political master stroke that did not only changed the course of Nasarawa politics but came like hurricane to deal a death knell to PDP which mark it’s final burial in Nasarawa through the overwhelming supports of the people.With these supports, he was able to deliver the state to Buhari and emerged governor.

His magic wand
Amidst empty treasury, intimidating debt profile and decayed infrastructures, Al-Makura swung into actions to fulfil his promises to the electorates by investing  massively in the infrastructural development of the state that saw massive constructions of urban and rural roads across the state. Lafia, the state capital was suddenly transformed to an attractive state capital with massive roads constructions, traffic and streets lights to ease vehicular and human movement.
Education sector witnessed  massive renovations and rehabilitations of schools across the state where for the first time, storey buildings with world class equipment and facilities were built as primary schools otherwise known as ‘Taal Model Schools in all the 13 local governments. Students scholarship and school feeding programmes were revived and education from primary to secondary levels were made free. Special schools for the blind, deaf among other disabled, were built in  three senetorial districts in addition to general rehabilitations and constructions in all secondary schools in the state.

Other achievements of the administration can be seen in the areas of health, commerce and industry, urban renewal, constructions of proposed international cargo airport, constructions and upgradings of markets across the state, 500 capacity Lafia City Square, digital land administration , modern fire service stations in the three senetorial districts, electrification projects, restoration of water supply and upgrading of water works, among many other intimidating records.
Within eight years in office, Al-Makura  transformed Nasarawa into a model of good governance with his people-centred policies that  endeared him to the electorates who nicked named him ‘The architect of modern Nasarawa state’ hence their decision to reward him with Senate seat where he is currently setting a new phase as the best among all those representing the state.

Contributions and sacrifices
When Al-Makura emerged governor under CPC in 2011, CPC only have the gubernatorial seat, one Senate and  five assembly members with PDP controlling the assembly with 19 lawmakers and two senators which they used as  weapon of vindictiveness. In their desperate efforts to frustrated him, it culminated into a failed impeachment plot because his performance forced the people to rise up in his defence as he was subsequently exonerated of all the allegations against him by the impeachment panel.His victory and their failed plot made him to remain as the only CPC governor in Nigeria.
Al-makura continued to hold the party together and provided leadership which left most opposition politicians in the state with no option than keep on defecting to APC in appreciation of his performance. By the time 2019 election was held, he did not only won the state with wide margin but APC also took over the state House of Assembly with 20  seats, two senators, four rep members leaving PDP with only one senator and one rep member.

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