In Africa, it is believed that age is just a number that does not count on a person’s performance, hence most leaders on the continent are above 70 years, yet some justified their leadership position, suffice to mention some notable leaders who were above 70 years old when they became presidents of their various countries.
In South Africa, Nelson Mandela, who fought the evil of apartheid and was in June 1964 imprisoned for 27 years, came out of prison on February 11, 1990, and became president at the age of 75 years.
Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe who died at the age of 95 championed the cause that rescued his country from white dominance, especially on land ownership. He led his country to independence in 1980. So also is Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia who in the struggle for his country’s independence wrote a book “Zambia Shall Be Free”.
Back home, President Muhammadu Buhari was above 70 years when he became president and some presidential flag bearers for the 2023 general elections are above 70 years. Older people seem to have a better experience in leadership.
Thus, when the ruling All Progressives Congress {APC} held its national convention, the party thought it wise to elect somebody who has vast experience in politics to pilot its affairs. After a thorough search the party reached a consensus and Senator Abdullahi Adamu was elected its national chairman.
Though Adamu is 76, he has the experience and strong will to deliver on the party’s mandate, for age is just a number. The APC national chairman is a bridge builder which was why before the party’s convention, he was appointed chairman, APC reconciliation committee with the mandate to reconcile aggrieved party members.
He travelled round the country to execute the mandate assigned to his committee. The committee’s work provided an insight into the party’s problems and how these problems can be solved. The committee was able to reconcile many party members, notable among them was the Zamfara APC crisis.
Besides being a bridge builder, Adamu is also a peace maker. When he was governor of Nasarawa state, there were instances when his convoy was stoned but as a mature politician and leader, his reaction was ‘’I cannot do anything against these young people, they don’t know what they are doing’’.
In 2002, when members of Oodua Peoples Congress clashed with Hausa Community in Lagos, tension was high, Adamu went to Lagos and other parts of the country and calmed the situation. He was also instrumental in resolving the crisis between the presidency and the National Assembly in 2002.
A good testimony on Adamu’s capacity in solving complex crises was the one given by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2005 when a powerful delegation from Nasarawa state paid him a courtesy call in Aso Rock, Abuja. Obasanjo declared,‘’ One thing I like about your state is it is a very peaceful state, even when the peace of the state was threatened, you handled the situation well”.
On July 23, 2022, the Turakin Keffi and Aare Obateru of Ile-Ife marked 76 years, that early trait of good leadership manifested in him, giving him national and international acceptance.
As the first democratically elected governor, he laid structures which his predecessors are now building on for a better Nasarawa state. He established the Nasarawa State University Keffi in 2000, State Polytechnic Lafia, College of Health Technology Keffi, School of Nursing and Midwifery Lafia and increased the number of secondary schools in the state from 91 to 220.
Like Mungo Park who wanted to discover the source of River Niger, Adamu discovered Farin Ruwa falls, a sight to behold and brought it to international limelight. His bold leadership and purposeful administration repositioned the state on the part of progress. The peaceful atmosphere and good human relation Adamu created in the state fetched him and the state wide circle of friends across the globe.
World leaders including two former presidents of the United States of America (Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter), Queen Elizabeth II, former U.S Ambassador to Nigeria, Howard F. Jetter, and Pastor Mark Craig all visited the state during his tenure as governor.
Alhaji Ahmadu Tanko who was his headmaster in Laminga senior primary school said, ‘’I was headmaster when Adamu passed through the school from 1957 to 1959. Abdullahi Agwada, as he was then called, was a very popular pupil with wide circle of friends inclusive of his seniors. He used to talk and argue a lot with friends but never fought anyone in the school.
“Abdullahi still exhibits good qualities as in his childhood years. Up till today Abdullahi comes to my house and pays respect to his master despite his exalted position as former governor. Go to his house and farm in Keffi, you we find his mates enjoying, talking with him as they used to do at Laminga”.
In 2005, when the renovation of the National Mosque Abuja became necessary, he was appointed chairman of the committee for the renovation, a task he successfully executed.
When the Rivers state government and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) organised an interdenominational funeral service in honour of the victims of the Sosoliso plane crash at the Port Harcourt International Airport on December 10, 2005, Adamu was in attendance. This is an example of his religious tolerance and respect for human life.
His religious tolerance could also be attested to by his appointments when his was governor. For example, he appointed five Muslims and five Christians as his special advisers in September 2003.
He was a pioneer member of the National Party of Nigeria {NPN} from 1979 – 1983. He became the state secretary of the party in Plateau dtate in 1978 and chairman in 1982-83. He was elected to the post-independent constitutional conference in 1977, a body that drafted the 1979 constitution.
In 1994, Adamu was again appointed to the National Conference by General Sani Abacha, thus Adamu has been involved in the drafting two Nigerian constitutions.
In March 1995, he was appointed minister of state for Works and Housing by Abacha, a position he held until November 17, 1997.
When the ban on politics was lifted, Adamu was a leading gubernatorial aspirant for the United Nigeria Congress Party, UNCP, but at the death of Abacha, the political structures in the country were suspended. When the new military regime of General Abdulsalam Abubakar blew the whistle on partisan politics, Adamu was back on track with the same ambition.
He contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where he was a founding member, and won the governorship election on January 9, 1999, and was sworn in on May 29, 1999, as the first civilian governor of Nasarawa state.
When he was governor, he delivered a paper titled “People of the North Think” in Kaduna at the Northern Leaders Peace Summit, the presentation dominated discussions among Nigerians and was commended by former President Shehu Shagari.
A lawyer, Adamu’s life speaks volumes at 76. In recognition for his service to humanity, Adamu has received high profile traditional titles from respected royal fathers across the country. They include: Turakin-Keffi, Aare-Obateru Ile-Ife, Teruru of Owu Kingdom, Onana Attah Igala, Odenigbo 1 of Igbo Land, Zanna Dawuma of Borno, Oloto (peace maker) of Agwada, Dan-Madamin Eggon and Ada-weji of Afo nation.
Matthew writes from Lafia Nasarawa state via [email protected]
