From Salihu Abdullahi Osuko, Giza

Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura is the face of APC, and has the undeterred capacity and capability to lead the party, APC, to retain power at the national level in 2023. He is divinely endowed with courage, zeal, determination and the requisite leadership skills needed to keep the APC in strong contention to the opposition PDP now and after the Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023. Major stakeholders and indeed founding members are indubitably convinced of his capacity to steer the affairs of the party having demonstrated outstanding leadership under very extreme circumstances as Governor of Nasarawa State. SUTA is uniquely gifted with the temperament to build the APC, nurture and sustain a very strong, progressive and viable political party that meets the yearnings and aspirations of the party, its members and indeed, all Nigerians.

Being a two-time Governor of Nasarawa State, he has demonstrated a sincere attitude that is not in doubt as a champion of national unity, which a party’s national chairman must possess. As a youth friendly leader, while he was Governor, he gave the young people a pride of place in his administration and ensured that all ethnic and religious groups live in peace and harmony. He established the Nasarawa Youth Empowerment Scheme where thousands of youths were engaged to make them productive, earn decent livelihood and contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic development of the State.

His cabinet consisted of the major ethnic groups in the country; it included indigenes of the state, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba ethnic nationalities to enhance all-inclusive governance and give the various ethnic groups a true sense of belonging in the scheme of affairs in the state. As Chairman, SUTA would encourage the Executive Leadership to indoctrinate this concept to enhance national cohesion and inclusiveness in governance; a necessary panacea for sustainable peace, harmony and economic growth and development.

This leading political juggernaut and two-term former Governor of Nasarawa state, has indicated interest to lead APC as its chairman and possesses the requisite skills, experience and the temperament necessary for the office. As an experienced administrator in the public and private sectors of the Nigerian economy, he has learnt the rudiments of leadership and is fully equipped with the desired pedigree and unimpeachable integrity required for the leadership of a progressive political party like the APC.

As a successful entrepreneur in the private sector, his views on the economy will be useful to enhance policy decisions in governance. He would engage constructively with the Executive Branch, the National Assembly, APC State Governors and other critical stakeholders to galvanize support and implementation of the party manifestos and appropriate policies that would guide the actualization of same and other campaign promises to keep faith with such commitments for the overall economic growth of the country and thereby enable Nigerians reap the desired dividends of democracy.

SUTA would engage with players in the real and organized private sector, as the engine of economic growth. He would do this in collaboration with the relevant Ministries, departments, agencies and other critical stakeholders to articulate policy frameworks that sustains current economic development gains and establish additional trails for the socio-economic prosperity of our people and the nation. He is not known to be arrogant or confrontational, and so would not approach this task with the mindset of an arrogant National Party Chairman. He will discharge his responsibility in a decent and dignified manner with the temperament, humility & respect for the office as well as the desire for value addition and team work to achieve significant results within a short span of time for rapid economic transformation that meets the aspiration of Nigerians.

Senator Tanko Al-Makura is the man of the moment for an unassailable electoral victory in 2023. His crucible of painstaking efforts, commitment and uncommon determination were commendable achievements that provided the fulcrum upon which the CPC gave leverage as one of the parties to the formation of The APC along with other members. This undoubtedly placed the CPC in a unique position to negotiate with the other legacy members towards the successful formation of the APC. He has proven experience at both Executive and Legislative Arms of government. He understands the business of governance and management of human interests. He understands the political ropes and has national appeal and acceptance across the country. He has the knack to stabilize the APC, coming from a very recent rancorous internal crisis.

Senator Tanko Almakura is the type of Party Chairman the APC needs to re-live and re-enact the bootstrap mass mobilization strategy he applied in 2011 that won the hearts of all and enabled him (CPC) uproot the PDP in Nasarawa state by defeating it and winning the election, to the shock of not only the goliath, but many people who never gave the CPC a chance in the first place. PDP is very determined to wrestle power from APC, so sentiments aside, the man to handle the guarantees of successful mass mobilization is Distinguished Senator Umaru Tanko Al-makura having achieved similar feat under very difficult and challenging circumstances in 2011.

Very few people bear and endure the pain of selflessness and sacrifice more than they can take as demonstrated throughout history, where heroes rise up through difficult and challenging circumstances to become famous and revered phenomena. For Almakura too, the beginning of his Gubernatorial aspiration in 2011 was difficult. He was jettisoned, intimidated, criticized, judged and even condemned; yet by his vision, courage, steadfastness and bootstrap mass mobilization strategy, he remained gallant in the tides of time and pushed through the glass ceilings to climb higher and above the realm of common notion and popular trend by defeating the then incumbent Governor to the shocking surprise and admiration of many people.

This was akin to David versus Goliath battle, where SUTA actually redefined politics in Nasarawa state and what democracy actually represents. The then CPC’s sincere campaign messages, slogans and promises struck a deep connection with the people. The mass mobilization strategy by his team, its passion, enthusiasm and commitment despite numerous challenges and booby traps by the opposition, only earned for the party and Almakura the love of the people, filial solidarity with him and the party and cult-like followership that paved the way for his seamless voyage into the Government house.

It was during this election in 2011 that SUTA and Nasarawa state accentuated the practical application of President Buhari’s concept of ‘‘akasa, atsare, araka, asanar’’ which literally means; vote, guard/protect your votes, escort same to the collation centres and wait there until announcement is made reflecting the correct election results. This obviously stymied any efforts by election riggers to perpetrate any unwholesome electoral voting fraud hence his declaration as the winner having won the election. With the political acculturation by Almakura of PMB’s concept, the state was able to checkmate and demystify the ferocious rigging machine prevalent and thus set the veritable path for successful elections in the State reflective of the wishes and aspirations of the people of Nasarawa State. SUTA would replicate similar feats as Chairman of APC.

What manner of a Chairman does the APC as A party needs, other than one whose zest for winning elections in the face of multifarious challenges is unquestionable. Having achieved these feats under difficult circumstances, Almakura has proven beyond any reasonable doubt, his ability and capacity to provide the critical leadership needed to navigate through any challenges that may arise in the ordinary course of partisan politics to enable the APC win the national election in 2023.

SUTA, as the then Governor, has delivered on his promise to revamp the local economy and nip the gap in infrastructure, enhance socio-economic growth and general improvement in the living standard of the people of the State. He kept faith with his promise to the people and consequently stayed true to his core mandate of elevating the state from abyss to the pinnacle of well developed and celebrared ones, in spite of numerous booby traps that characterised his Administration. Almakura worked tirelessly for the growth and development of the State and also bequeathed several progressive projects and policies with undeniable short and long term social and economic benefits to the state. His ideology of fairness, equity, integrity and the fear of God as well as absolute loyalty to the State/ Nation has largely carved niches in the hearts of the people and thus permeated the identity and ideology of a generation. SUTA is truly an ENIGMA.

If people do not sacrifice their peace, they will not in any way create history that will guarantee their names to be engraved on the marble of gold, and the proverbial sands of time. From a seemingly rural, backward, underdeveloped and disadvantaged state, one man, through sheer hard work, patriotism and doggedness transformed Nasarawa State to an enviable height of national reckoning. His massive intervention in infrastructural development particularly good road networks with modern drainage systems, health, education, rural & community development, environment, commerce and other key sectors of the economy including people living with disabilities has propelled the state up there amongst the comity of well-developed and celebrated ones in Nigeria. He was able to achieve these landmark developments despite paucity of funds and security challenges occasioned by the infamous Ombatse crisis and other numerous communal clashes that engulfed the state in his first term in office.

That he was able to manage and contain these security issues successfully and still provide the needed development for the people was testament to his commitment in fulfilling his covenant to the people of Nasarawa State. His pedigree anchored on accountability, fear of God, integrity, honesty, transparency and hard work have conspired to spur him on to bequeath lasting legacies of democracy dividends that will outlive generations yet unborn. By his sterling records of outstanding performance, Senator Almakura has engraved his name indelibly in gold in the hearts of all and on the sands of time.

At this point in the nation’s history, it is relevant as the search continues for the National Chairman of APC, to bring to the fore the enviable manifestations of a man who deprived his comfort for the good of his people. Al-Makura by his antecedents, consistently imbibes a leadership style that imbues his admirers with confidence in his ability to perform and exceed expectations. He has held a strong belief that if leaders do not sacrifice their personal comfort and peace of mind for the people they serve, they will not in any way create history that will guarantee their names to be engraved on the marble of gold. Such are the attributes Senator Al-Makura has been endowed with; a character trait which as National Chairman of APC, he will apply as a worthy strategy to drive the party to electoral victory in 2023.

Al-Makura, like other Inspirational leaders, through their style of leadership would not hesitate to create new trails and paths that would lead to the enthronement of a vibrant and viable economic framework for the growth of the Nation and its people. He would work in tandem and close collaboration with the Executive, Legislature and indeed the critical stakeholders to articulate policy frameworks, programs and projects as well as party manifestos and ensure zealous implementation of same for the enhancement of the socio-economic status of the people even if the paths are difficult, but with absolute guarantees of achieving ultimate economic prosperity, growth and sustainable development for all as dividends of democracy.

Senator Al-Makura is also one of those leaders who through their determination bring change, and those who through their creativity acquire fellowship especially when they become models and fountains of inspiration to thousands of loyal followers and even those who envy as well as those who admire and strive to follow their paths in tandem with their existing legacies; these are indeed true leaders! No country can climb the ladder of modern civilization without taking risks and bearing the pains of sacrifice. Here is one man positioned in the quietness of his world, creating wealth and building capacities for the teeming youths whose lots have been positively transformed when he ruled, creating windows of opportunities to cushion the pangs of unemployment in his state as the records show admirably.

Senator Umar Tanko Al-Makura may appear simple and courteous but in this man lies the hidden treasure of cultivated leadership. For a man who without the aided affluence of powers that-be created an empire of opportunities, sure deserves our support, especially at this time of leadership deficit in the terrain of national politics today. For whom much is given much is expected, it is therefore not out of place to bring to the national focus, the dexterity of this astute political colossus and a philanthropist par excellence in the hallmark of credible leadership reference as we search for the re-invigoration of the soul of APC as a strong political platform for Nigeria.

Observers agree that Senator Almakura always appear unassumingly calm, immaculate and peaceful and speaks with the dexterity of an orator, flowing boisterously with his peers, colleagues and subordinates. He has

traversed all the thorny roads of life that leads one to the pinnacle of success like others before him. The story of His Excellency, Senator Al-Makura is not only on the pedestal of his achievements in life as an accomplished Executive, but also as one guided in the course of his metamorphosis by a deeper sense of compassion, empathy and love for humanity within which he is inspired to quietly give back significant proportion of his wealth to the society through silent philanthropic activities.

Only those who tread the path of pain enjoy the blessings of gain. This is one-man, in a guided capacity of service, who has defied all the odds to make a difference has created history that changed the mentality of a people, reshaped the ideology of a generation and redirected the course of Nasarawa State. It has become absolutely important to put on record permanently, the actions in public service of such a wonderful man, so that coming generations can flip through the pages of these permanent lines to draw inspiration and references to make informed judgment in the course of human development.

As pathfinder, he sets the trajectory as the Governor of the only state in Nigeria under the CPC, for the then CPC to present PMB the identity and collateral leverage that stood in his favour in the merger of parties that transformed into the APC that consequently wrestled power from the PDP in the General Elections of 2015. Achievement they say is a story of victory, but success is a testimony of life. The greatest achievement in the life of a man is peace, and the greatest success a man can achieve is bringing fulfillment into the lives of others. Those who give hope create happiness and those who create happiness give life, this is the story of His Excellency, Senator Umar Tanko Al-Makura; A man who endured the tortures and vicissitudes of life and eventually changed the popular narrative that there is after all, possibility in impossibilities.

We have gained a deeper and illuminating insight into who Al-Makura is, and what he truly represents. We are guided by his ideals of outstanding pedigree of hard work, loyalty and patriotism as well as honesty, accountability, inclusiveness and an abiding faith in the unity of our dear Nation in spite of its diversity. We would therefore, not remain silent but will sustain his advocacy, not with the arrogance that inflames anger, but with the firmness and sincerity of purpose that will in the fullness of time appeal to our people’s hearts and open their minds to make the right choice: Al-Makura.

In the spirit of inclusivity, his vision, policies and development programs as then Governor of Nasarawa State embodied the totality of the citizenry to the extent that the blind could see, the deaf could hear and the dumb could smile in happiness, evidently in support of the people-centric socio-economic development programs of his Administration for which they were great beneficiaries. Al-Makura is humble, patriotic and very intelligent. He is naturally endowed with limitless capacity for patience, unassailable integrity, and a deeper sense of camaraderie. He is uniquely gifted with a heart of gold and an awesome bond of filial solidarity with the common man and the less privileged of the society.

Evidently, Almakura, being a true symbol of loyalty has distinguished himself creditably and demonstrated without any iota of doubt the true meaning of unalloyed loyalty to the party, its leader, party leadership and loyal members when he not only resisted the sustained pressure to decamp to the PDP, but went through series of hurdles, intimidation, blackmail and even impeachment, ostensibly, to compel his acquiescence. But for SUTA, he would rather loose his prestigious seat as Governor than to betray his party, the then CPC and the trust and confidence for which its Leader, then GMB and now PMB has for him.

By God’s divine intervention and the overwhelming support of the people, he faced these monumental challenges headlong and eventually obliterated them all, one after the other. Ultimately, he left behind a stronger, viable, formidable and a reinvigorated party at the state to the glory of all. It’s gratifying to know that it is this same party structure, having gone through numerous sacrifices of this amiable gentleman and the state he led that provided the pillar that served as a formidable launchpad for PMB and the eventual successful merger with the other legacy parties that gave birth to the APC. He believes so much in the philosophy and ideology of the President and His mentorship which guided the Governor’s successful administration of Nasarawa state.

The same ideals for which he stood for with the CPC are the same that guides his strong bond of loyalty and filial solidarity with the APC. With Almakura, you can be sure of an exciting, fulfilling and a rewarding political voyage on board the APC for the actualization of the dreams and aspirations of our Great Country and its diverse People.

His story, his sacrifices and uncommon services to the Nation, its people and indeed, humanity in general transcends time and space to elucidate here. Give him the opportunity to further contribute remarkably to nation building and add exceeding value to leadership and the sustainable growth and development of our dear country, Nigeria led by our great party, the APC.

The former governor of Nasarawa State and former Senator who represented the Nasarawa South Senatorial District, Senator Umar Tanko Almakura has called on the citizens of Nigeria to demand for purposeful leadership that is anchored on the sacred principles of honesty, transparency, accountability and above all, the fear of God.

Dr. Almakura made the assertion during a visit paid him by some supporters group in Lafia the capital of Nasarawa State.

His words: “My dear compatriots, this time avail us an opportunity not only to rejoice but also to engage in sober reflection on the myriad of challenges that we face as a nation and as a state. Indeed we must individually and collectively stop to ponder over the current state of insecurity that pervades our fatherland with the attendant consequences of loss lives and property”.

He maintained that as stakeholders, the followership must imbibed the virtues of mutual love, respect, self-discipline, hard work and patriotism; adding that when we live up these noble dispositions, we shall steadily but surely weather the storm and reach the Promised Land.

The Senator further urged all and sundry, to put hands on deck and work assiduously for the unity, development and progress of the country as well

as Nasarawa state.

Being a Nigerian means we have a responsibility towards Nigeria. If we want Nigeria to be great, and I expect every Nigerian to so want, then the responsibility is on you and I to do things that will make Nigeria great.

The so called advanced countries are where they are today due to the COLLECTIVE effort of their citizens, both leaders and followers. Majority of the citizens of those countries take RESPONSIBILITY for making their country great. It was the Ex-president of America, John F. Kennedy, who made the famous statement- "ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country".

Yes, Nigeria may not have done much for most of us. Yes, our leaders, past and present, may have performed below expectation and in some cases woefully. Nigeria is our one and only country, and whatever we make of it affects you and I directly or indirectly.

Critical self introspection by every Nigerian, home and abroad, will reveal the connection between our individual BAD BEHAVIOUR and most of the problems plagueing our country. The BAD BEHAVIOUR of you and I will add up to destroy the country while good behaviour by the majority will add up to build the country. For instance, school teachers who encourage examination mal-practices should see the connection between their BAD BEHAVIOUR and multitude of un-employable graduates, high unemployment rate, morally bankrupt/incompetent leaders,etc.

The medical practitioners should see the connection between their actions/inactions and low life expectancy in Nigeria (estimated to be 47yrs), high infant and maternal mortality rates, etc. The legal practitioners who unduly prolong court cases should see the connection between their antics and monumental corruption in the country. The parents who fail in giving their children proper upbringing are simply churning out more potential criminals and looters. The moderators on NL who speedily push negative news in Nigeria to the front page should see the damage they'r doing to the IMAGE of this country. And so on and so forth.

Consequently, every Nigerian should take RESPONSIBILITY for creating the great Nigeria we desire. As individuals, teachers, lecturers, legal practitioners, medical practitioners, parents, sports men/women, politicians, students, etc we should DO THE RIGHT THING. The professionals should give 100% at work place and the COMMON GOOD should be top priority. By so doing, you and I will be building the great Nigeria of our dreams.

Oh yes!!! Nigerian to my DNA molecules. In my field (As a politician and a business man), i make it a point of duty to be as open and honest as possible to everyone i encounter, I give the best services drawing foreign inspiration and giving it a Nigerian twist to improve my environment. I vote, pay my taxes, keep my environment clean, just a model to make life cheaper for Nigerians.

Our duties to Nigeria is to assist Nigerians anyway we can. I believe all Nigerian leaders since the 70s has neglected nation building and people oriented developments. The present administration was suppose to be hope for Nigerians.

When we are doing our duties as citizens of this great nation by voicing out our grievances towards government, we are constantly called names like tribalist, opposition, sore losers etc.. even though we don't belong to any party. The op of this thread is not doing any duty as a Nigerian as can be proven with his/her posts history. The op's duty is to the current administration not to Nigeria.

Our duty as citizens is nothing but to ensure the survival of our nation. The only way a nation can survive is if the citizens are happy with the nation and the only way citizens can be happy with the nation is if the leaders don't neglect them.

You see what Fraudulent Nigerian talks about is "change". If change was such an easy process where everyone just starts acting the "right way" overnight, then we won't have to study implementing and managing change. We will just sit and assume everyone will start acting right overnight. Leaders drive change, leaders implement change, leaders take ultimate responsibility for change and leaders manage change as change is a part of leadership. Read books on change to have a better understanding of how the process works, it is not a 'bolekaja' process. Read Julia Balogun's book on change in a business context. Read Fernandez and Rainey's work in a public policy context.

However , in spite of our inadequacies, our short comings, we have been able to see change, growth in many areas, it might not be all encompassing, not as much as we would have hoped for, but change nonetheless.

I do not want to live a sad life, I cannot afford to always read stories from sahara reporters, lest I'd be depressed. That is not what I want from life, or for my country. Our leaders are a reflection of our society, bad leaders do not just fall from heaven, they are born out of our thoughts and deeds. The tribalism which our founding fathers propagated has no place in our society( AWO, zick, ahmadu bello).

We cannot continue to dwell in the past, in the present or else there would be no future. We should let go of the past, but carry along vital lessons learnt, so we do not make the same mistakes in the future. We can continue to blame our leaders all we like, in many areas, it is justified, however nigeria, we must always remember, is just a name, there can never be a nigeria without nigerians. our shortcomings is a nation is a result of our collective nonchalance towards nation building by all and sundry by both government and people.

However, we have seen growth there are 55million nigerians in middle class of a population of 168 million people, we can build on what we have achieved so far and make it uniquely nigerian. A brand. I like to always draw comparism between nigeria and both brazil and india ( 6th and 10th most richest countries in the world), like nigeria these aformention countries share many similarities, like nigeria, brazil had suffered many military coups in the past and crime is very prevalent in brazil. And like nigeria, india has a large population( well larger than nigeria, diverse, multi lingual and multi religious), with over 60% living below the poverty line/ terrorism.

Yet brazil and india have managed to grow well past these in adequacies, and built an empire of a nation for themselves . They are no push overs in world politics. The similarities

these nations have with nigeria are glaring. We can copy the india and brazilian model and make uniquely nigerian. Change/ growth has to come,' na by force', but it starts with you and I as nigerians, first doing the write things. We can start by first quit the littering of our streets, things as small as that could/ would go along way in changing perceptions and attitudes.

We all desire a great, prosperous nigeria, we should stand up / do the right thing and work towards it. We cannot sit at home all day and only criticise the government in power. We are literally the government in power as our leaders potray attitudes seen in the citizens. They are a reflection of our society.

Why Nigeria must be great. Just as the impetus for the conquest and colonisation of Nigeria came as a consequence of developments on the global scene in the eighteenth century, Nigeria’s next stage of development as a country will also arise from the ongoing changes in the global geopolitical architecture.

It is instructive that the United States of America, Britain and France, the three main countries which dominated and shaped much of the 19th and 20th century global events are today facing great challenges to their combined hegemony in the world.

China along with Russia are holding the US by the jugular and breathing down its thick neck in every sphere of life. Britain is at odds with itself and the world, adrift and not knowing whether to set anchor with the US or return humiliatingly back to the EU which it left, in a fit of characteristic petulant hubris.

While this lack of direction is going on in Britain, once the most powerful industrial nation on earth, India a former colony of Britain has overtaken as the fifth-largest economy in the world. To underscore the irony, a Briton of Indian descent, Rishi Sunak, along with several of his types are now deeply ensconced at the top British political and economic establishment.

As for France, with recent events in its African sphere where its dominance of the political, economic and social life of the people of the area was total, it is now quite clear that the end is near. Russia, China, India, Brazil and a slew of former colonial possessions of the powers that dominated the 18th and 19th centuries are now among the main drivers of the emerging world order. And in this struggle between the old powers and the emerging ones, Africa is the main arena of competition.

As the most populous and largest economy on the continent, Nigeria will have to be inevitably confronted with the reality of whether to stand idly by and watch the geopolitical game going on right before it, or jump into the fray and use its unique built-in advantages to make the difference. I believe Nigeria will go the latter way because the objective situation will dictate so.

The Nigerian political elite so long addicted to the dubious conveniences of self-entitlement under our defective political structure will be confronted with the triple whammy of fierce internal political, economic and social contradictions, the aggressive interests of emerging world powers and the rear guard actions of the old powers to protect and keep their interests.

If our political elite stick with the old powers, the US and Britain, then they risk being swept away by the tidal waves of the aggressive push into Africa by the emerging powers. If on the other hand our political elite cash in with the new powers, there is the tendency that the old powers will hold Nigeria hostage in their pushback against the emerging powers.

The decisive decision in this trilemma will be not to choose the middle course of not supporting either of the contending forces because there will be no room for such. For Nigeria, the only feasible course will be to carve its own geopolitical space as a third global force.

In the ongoing struggle for a new world order, Nigeria will not have the luxury of standing still for it will be eaten by the centrifugal forces of global change. As objectively dictated by its position as the bellwether country on the African continent and by its global position as the fulcrum of peoples of African descent in the world, Nigeria has the bounden responsibility of pushing through the agenda of African renaissance on the global stage.

The historical forces that will take Nigeria to this stage can be found in two ways; the prevailing situation in Nigeria in which there is mounting socio-economic and political alienation of the people and the sense of dubious privilege and entitlement in the middle of all these by our political elite, and the failure to read and apply the lessons of profound global events that have a bearing on our responsibilities and role as a country in the comity of nations.

Just as it is happening in other parts of our continent and indeed in our vicinity, our elite should not permit themselves the luxury of thinking that these forces of change may not visit us. Due to the complexities of our country, in the likely event of what happened in other countries around us occurring here, we may have to be confronted with the above three scenarios. And in this regard, as President Tinubu stated recently in his speech at the just concluded United Nations General Assembly, the world will come to ignore Nigeria at its own peril. The sense of manifest destiny in which all Nigerian governments of all types and descriptions right down to the average Nigerians have always carried on their consciousness will likely kick in.

If there is one thing that Nigerians of all walks believe and express as their worldview, it is that when it comes to Nigeria’s role and responsibility in Africa and in the world of African people, Nigeria has a duty to lead one way or the other. It is a consciousness that is embedded in every Nigerian. And in a looming socio-economic and political combustion underpinned by a coming big bang in the tectonic plates of the global geo-political order, Nigeria will be compelled to discover and pursue its manifest course and destiny of standing up for Africa and peoples of African descent worldwide in a changing world. Thus a new Nigeria will be born out of this crucible and therein lies the inevitable path to the greatness that Nigeria promises.