By ESV Salihu Abdullahi Osuko
Sen. Al-makura
Senator Umar Tanko Almakura is the man of the people, a role model to many in politics and in the business sector. A man with a large heart for the people and even the disabled.
Retired American business executive and chemical engineer Jack Welch had the story of Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura in mind when he said “Great leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion.”
Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura relentlessly drove Nasarawa state project for 8 years (2011-2019) as Governor to the admiration of even his critics. His administration made great strides in virtually all sectors in line with his campaign promises.
The major pillars of his eight- year administration include infrastructures, wealth creation, Agriculture, job creation, health, education among others. From a once rural sleepy town and settlements carved out of the Plateau and Benue states 22 years ago, Senator Al-Makura changed the narratives in Nasarawa state, which was defined by can-do-spirit of a leader who believes that whatsoever the mind conceives can be achieved.
In 2011, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura entered the race to become Governor as a person living with disability of deafness in both ears. He contested on the platform of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), a political party newly formed by Mohammadu Buhari, which was barely four months old at the time of the 2011 elections. The CPC had no template for electoral victory since it had never ruled before yet Umaru Tanko Al-Makura defeated the incumbent Governor at that time and was re-elected in 2015 under the All Progressive Congress (APC) as the only disabled governor in Nigeria.
Based on his unprecedented legacy achievements in all the sectors, the good people of Nasarawa South senatorial district on February 23rd during the 2019 National Assembly elections rewarded him with a senatorial seat to represent them in the 9th Senate. When he was popularly elected a senator in 2019, many that knew Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura’s antecedents were sure the good people of Nasarawa South senatorial district are in for effective representation.
Doubts were however expressed that serving as executive governor is entirely different from the business of lawmaking, that he may find the Upper Chamber challenging in effectively representing the people of Nasarawa south.
The doubts were further reinforced by the costly distraction of an election petition by the PDP and its candidate that went right up to the final appeal before his popular mandate was further judicially validated. With 10 months in office as representatives of the people of Nasarawa south senatorial districts, Al-Makura can only look back in fulfillment as he pushes on with the task of effective representation, interestingly, Al-Makura appears to have it all covered. His eight- year stints as Governor where he made his name as architect of modern Nasarawa state is believed to have prepared him for his present task.
Not only is he good at managing human resources, Al-Makura is also reputed as having resounding human relations such that everyone, who has come across him often tells of his large heart and generosity. Within 10 months of his stay in the National Assembly, Senator Al-Makura has introduced empowerment programmes that have direct bearing on the lives of not only the youths but the elderly in the constituency. He has also included several projects from the senatorial districts in the 2020 federal government budget for which implementation would soon commence.
He noted that his achievements so far were evident of what the zone stands to gain by electing him to represent the zone, even as he promised to continue to provide qualitative representation which he said is borne out of a deep and passionate consideration directed at cushioning the challenges of inadequate power supply to the traditional rulers.
According to him: “You know too well what role our traditional rulers play in areas of security, peace and stability including information dissemination. I feel that appreciating them should not be done only during campaign period, but we can appreciate them at a time like this when there are no serious political activities.”
With just 11 months in office as senator representing Nasarawa south senatorial districts, Al-Makura’s scorecard, which was released recently sums it all up in terms of effective and efficient representation with record-breaking achievements in practically all the boxes of expectations flung his way. He is a father to many both far and near...
Senator Umar Tanko Almakura is the man of the people, a great personality, a humanitarian and the hope of the poor masses.
The philanthropic and humane side of the Senator is just one of those qualities that stand him out as a leader. Nasarawa state, like many other states in Nigeria, is blessed with prominent political juggernauts and distinguished sons and daughters of repute who have not only written their names in gold in their various fields of endeavour but also made their marks in Nigeria’s socio-economic and political arena.
Senator Almakura is a gift to the people of the state. His years of sojourn on earth has been a life of services to God and humanity in accordance to the prayers and wishes of his beloved people.
Suffice to say that the prayers and dreams of all responsible parents is to live a worthy and exemplary life and also gave birth to God-fearing children who will not only build upon their legacies but also keep the family’s name afloat and bring honour, dignity and pride to their people, society and humanity at large. Some parents are lucky to have their prayers answered while others are not despite efforts to put their children on the path of decency and righteousness.
Few years after his birth this God given child began to manifest the virtues of simplicity, humility, obedience, patience, perseverance, love for the common man, passion for humanity and determination to reach the apex of his dreams. This prompted men of wisdom and foresight to foretell that Hassan will bring honour and pride to his parents and become the emancipator of his people in the nearest future.
True to this prophesy, he grew up to become a vibrant, intelligent, hardworking, determined and focused young man full of zeal to reach the apex of his academic dreams. Brilliant
As a compassionate person who always has the interest of the common man at heart, Senator Almakura continues to use his hard earned wealth, business opportunities, influence and social contacts to put smiles on the faces of the common man and contribute his quota to the development of Nasarawa state and his people.
His humane disposition,enviable legacy, patriotism and immense contributions to the development of Nasarawa state and above all, his remarkable determination to the cause of democracy, good governance and accountable leadership made him an attractive bride to the people of Nasarawa state.
the people of Nasarawa state will continue to eulogise him and hold him in high esteem for his patriotism, love for the common man and his contribution to making Nasarawa work again not only for the present but also for the future. We wish him Allah’s continuous blessings, guidance, good health, long life and more years of service to humanity, the state and Nigeria.
ESV Salihu Abdullahi Osuko
Garkuwan Giza
Media Aide To Dist People's Senator Umar Tanko Almakura.
