Recollections of the early lives of men and women who rise to greatness are always subjected to retrospective filtration by friends and associates.
Senator-elect Ahmed Wadada is a standard-bearer as well as one among the most dignified standard cynical and clear-thinking men of Nigeria democracy.
His native culture reveals him as someone of radiant truths relevant to all humanity. As a politician, he is a man of great self-confidence and formidable persuasive skills which make him a man of vibrant public personality. He enjoys wealth as well as political connectivity. His intellectual gift is the foundation from which he thinks philosophically as an administrator and later as a politician.
Wadada is a simple ordinary person whom life provided 10 percent of what to make of it and with 90 percent, he was able to face challenges that abound and opportunities that were not abound. He explored opportunities that came his way, overcame challenges to achieve the essentials of life.
Unlike many of his contemporaries who found their ways to the top amidst opportunities while reaping vast profits, Wadada’s formative years imbibed in him the ability to source and manage both human and material resources for the betterment of mankind and the society.
From childhood, he showed signs of leadership as well as an achiever; for example, he was a class monitor and senior prefect in his primary school days at Abdu Zanga Primary School and social prefect at Government Secondary School, Miango. With a straight run through his educational pursuit, he obtained Higher National Diploma (HND) in Business Administration & Management from Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa in 1993, having obtained National Diploma in the same course and from the same institution in 1987.
His working career that spanned over a decade saw him as a senior clerk with United Bank for Africa; procurement officer, Benue Cement Company Gboko; distribution manager, Kano Tobacco Distribution Company and administrative manager/personal assistant to the chairman, Vision Group.
A man of many talents, he consciously built his public support from the grassroots, doing the little ordinary things that matter to his people and the community in an extraordinary way. He was an able speaker and spoke often at any given opportunity which won him admiration among his people.
Consolidating on his experience with calm judgment, a positive ambition young man, he ventured into active politics on the platform of People Democratic Party (PDP). His reputation as an outreach personality and prestige with his people was at its height within this period. As a mark of his political strength, he won election into the House of Representatives for the 2003/2007 session to represent Keffi, Karun and Kokona federal constituency on the platform of PDP.
He was re-elected in 2007 based on his outstanding performances in the House. He was the pioneer chairman of the House Committee on Capital Market and Institutions as well as member of various House Committees between 2003 and 2010.
After his stewardship in the lower chamber, he ventured into private business to solidify and consolidate his political gains. Within this period, he however continued to build his public support, reaching out to provide for his people’s pressing needs. Wadada’s work revolved around community-based development; grappling with what he believes are the most important issues of life.
His humanitarian work nourishes those vital aspects of the community. With the awareness of the power of the media, he put his name, money and time behind the establishment of a radio station (Maloney FM) to create genuine public enlightenment about real life issues as well as create an avenue for employment and self-development opportunities that the initiative of an individual can produce.
As his fortune increases in leaps and bounds, he brought together like-minds who had interest in the game of Polo and invested in organising the annual Keffi Polo tournament thus boosting the economic activities of Keffi town and its environs.
With his robust vision and mission to contribute to the good fortunes of the people of Nasarawa state and North-central at large, a breathing action politician, smart with charming life, he will be playing active role in the North-central Senate caucus of the 10th NASS.
Ahmed Wadada Aliyu is the catalyst for change in the politics of Nasarawa state as well as the North-central geo-political zone for the future.
Umar writes from Lokoja, Kogi state
