One thing that is recurrent in politics, the world over, is the constant scheming by internal party men and opposition politicians alike to gain an edge over a leading politician. This is done without scruples or restraints. Like the courtiers of old, politicians combine both covert and overt scheming to edge in front of whoever poses the most threat to their ambitions. In most cases, these schemers are individuals mostly after their personal aggrandisement. And with the growing populism, it only requires a little emotionalism to whip largely unlettered people into a murderous mob.
The results, as we have noticed in Nigeria, is the ousting of political leaders with the purest of intentions, only to replace them with fair-weather politicians after promoting their vanity. To outplay such characters in this game, therefore, the typical politician must grow a thick skin and build structures that are well grounded and appreciated by the mass the people. This is necessary because, all politics is local. The motto then must be, “Do everything possible for the sake of the people”.
Nigeria’s political scene is laden with such enigmatic politicians whose impacts over the years have helped to build a subsisting relevance that has outlived all the efforts of their traducers. The spotlight of this piece is on Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto state. This article will trace a political capital built across over two decades of public service, beginning from 1999 when Distinguished Senator Wamakko was elected deputy governor of Sokoto state in a joint ticket with Governor Attahiru Bafarawa, who later fellout with him.
The fallout between the duo was so intense that Wamakko’s election as governor in 2007 was annulled on the ground of double party membership. Abdullahi Balarabe Salame was drafted in as hold the forte as acting governor. In the rerun election which took place in 2008, Wamakko squared up against Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi on paper, but in actual fact, the election was between Wamakko and Bafarawa, embittered as it were at the soaring political fortunes of his former deputy governor. Wamakko emerged victorious in the 2008 rerun and he went on to retain his seat in 2011.
So, Senator Wamakko was governor of Sokoto state between May 29, 2007 and May 29, 2015. And although, the political rise of Wamakko has been dogged by certain adversities, his biggest battle for control of the politics of Sokoto state came in 2019 and this will form the chunk of this analysis.
Recall that Senator Wamakko was among the G5 Governors who broke out of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and joined All Progressives Congress, APC, as foundation members of the multi-political parties’ alliance. Naturally, he assumed leadership of the APC in Sokoto state. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal flew the flag of APC in the 2015 general elections, himself having decamped to the party in 2014. And enjoying the good fortunes of Senator Wamakko, Tambuwal was elected governor without as much as breaking too much sweat.
However, citing irreconcilable differences and what he claimed was a search for political freedom, then Governor Tambuwal dumped the APC for PDP in July 2018. Many considered this move a monumental blow for the APC and concluded that it will constitute a mammoth test on the solidity of Senator Wamakko’s political structure. But, not even the many commentators who concluded that Senator Wamakko, a Pittsburgh University graduate, was about to be finally retired by Tambuwal, were prepared for what followed.
A gale of defections gripped the PDP in the days leading to the general elections in 2019 that everywhere, including the so-called popularity of Tambuwal, appeared to have vanished. Tambuwal’s deputy and current governor of Sokoto, Governor Aliyu Ahmed, was flying the APC flag. Although, it didn’t prove to be enough in the end, as Tambuwal still managed to edge the 2019 governorship election, albeit with a tiny margin of 342 votes, it gave those who wrote off Wamakko a great deal of thinking. The old fox is still the leader of the pack, as they’ll come to find out in 2023.
Now, fast forward to 2023 with Tambuwal no longer on the ballot, but still wielding the powers of incumbency, being the governor, and marvel at how Senator Wamakko’s political knack shone really bright. Not only did APC’s Aliyu Ahmed defeat Umar Saidu of the PDP with close to 50,000 votes, but Senator Wamakko also retained his seat despite running against Tambuwal’s deputy governor, Mannir Muhammad Daniya – executive power of incumbency and all. Although, the election was initially declared inconclusive, necessitating a rerun, Hon. Daniya had no prayer in the end as he was beaten by a margin of over 20,000 votes despite the executive powers he jointly wielded with the then governor, now Senator Tambuwal.
The question begging for answers then is, what is behind Senator Wamakko’s political longevity? The answer is simple. It’s down to an Hausa saying that “a daɗe ana yi sai gaskiya”. This loosely translates to ‘only truth can stand the test of time’. Senator Wamakko’s sincerity and bond with his people is the foundation stone of his political sagacity. As deputy governor, he served his principal with the diligence and sincerity required of him. And even though it turned out insufficient to land him the blessings of Attahiru Bafarawa, the people of Sokoto appreciated it and rallied behind him in 2007, 2008, 2015 and ever since. Till today, he’s staying in Sokoto than any place in the world – he finds comfort in associating with his people.
In the same vein, his time as governor was really a period of rude changes to the way of doing things. In 2012, the then governor approved the release of over ₦1.5 billion to cover payments of all students of the state on overseas scholarship. In 2013, Wamakko inaugurated ₦1.12 billion houses built by his government to cater for victims of a 2010 flood at Tanane, Silame local government area. The 250 homes came fully furnished with basic facilities that will improve the living standards of the people. This was in addition to several that were started in Goronyo and Gada, but which erstwhile Governor Tambuwal refused to complete. Thankfully, Governor Aliyu has returned to site to deliver those homes for the many people of Sokoto who need them.
Also in 2011, the then Governor Wamakko trained 5,725 youths in very useful skills. Under the Sokoto Skill Acquisition Scheme, over ₦77 million worth of tools were distributed to the trainees to help them setup for work, a move that has been hailed as a self employment scheme to help curb the menace of unemployment, while also contributing their quota towards the socio-economic and political development of Sokot state.
As a senator, Wamakko has remained steadfast to his charter with the people of Sokoto state. Only recently, he sponsored some 600 indigent students to acquire tertiary education in different parts of the world. This was in addition to 17 undergraduates who recently left for the University of Lahore in Pakistan. He and Governor Aliyu, whose 100 days in office was marked with exceptional showing, have helped the people of Sokoto weather the storm of hunger and poverty occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy by the President Bola Tinubu government.
This team work between father and son is happening in an environment of mutual respect, but above all, under the pact of a single objective. The objective is to improve the quality of lives of the people of Sokoto through education, quality and affordable healthcare, peace and security of lives and property, wealth creation and poverty alleviation and a great deal more approaches that form the very foundation of democracy and its dividends. Governor Aliyu may well surpass his favour in making the lives of the people of the state than he met it, and nothing will give Senator Wamakko more joy than to witness somebody positively making him proud. And the people of Sokoto are still reaping from his political knack.
Musa, a journalist, writes from Kaduna, Kaduna state
