By Francis Nansak Lafia
Former Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State and later senator that represented Nasarawa South Senatorial District in the Nigeria National Assembly is a cum party man whose foot steps are indelible.
It is by history no longer news that the former governor was instrumental to the merger that forced the then ruling People’s Democratic Party out of the presidential villa Abuja in 2015 ,after his succession as a one man squard politician that sent off a sitting governor in his home state of Nasarawa in 2011.
Senator Al-Makura took over the administration of the state as a loner, no godfather and a faint political structure ,but empowered youths and convinced some stakeholders who later joined him in the rescue of the state from the then ruling party venom that almost led to his ouster by the then state assembly that conspired to ridicule the administration.
The good news from the aftermath of that legislative fury is that the speaker of that assembly is today a card carrying member of the APC ,who is enjoying the fruits of joining the ruling party.
Another politician that the Senator Almakura’s loyalty and vision for development brought on board is the current speaker of the state assembly.
Some pundit described the Sardaunan Gwandara world wide and Sarkin Tuta of Lafia , distinguished Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura as the political master strategy whose tenure as governor and leader of the APC in Nasarawa State recorded minimal internal frictions , especially during major events as conducting party primaries in electing wards,local government and state delegates.
History will not hurriedly forget the role senator Al-Makura played in leading the APC in maintaining it position at the Shendam Road Government House Lafia,that produces his successor and incumbent governor Engineer Abdullahi Sule, this is apart from a track record he kept when he was assigned by the National Headquarters of the ruling All Progressive Congress to conduct the governorship primary election at Ekiti and Bauchi states where the exercise was seamlessly processed without hitches.
Although his steady rise in politics is without hinderances at home and the national level but senator Al-Makura maintained loyalty ,steadfastness and holding forth to the vision of the party .
While he served as governor in Nasarawa State,Senator Al-Makura he meticulously saturated the state with a people friendly policies that gave room for development ,citizens progress and advancement.
Al-Makura is a seasoned politician ,a political role model , a party loyalist per excellence whose steadfast disposition has sustained speedy dominance of the APC in the north central states.A reward for his loyalty will be the right thing to do as APC dire not loose him especially that 2027 beckons.