Aminu Waziri Tambuwal: The man, politician and leader

BY ANSELM OKOLO

At birth his parents had a premonition that their tot was destined to be a leader and counsellor to great men, so they named him Aminu meaning the trustworthy and dependable. That premonition has been the lot of RT Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, CFR, incumbent Governor of Sokoto State and former Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Long before his birth, his family had known respect and maintained a strong voice in the palace of leaders, main reason they were called Waziri meaning prime minister or counsellors of great leaders

 Trained as a lawyer at Uthman Danfodio University Sokoto, this urbane and avid believer in the integrity of hard work and merit in public service, has lived a life of selflessness and sacrifice for the good of the greater society.

THE MAN

Aminu Waziri Tambuwal or AWT as he is fondly called by friends and associates is a highly detribalised Nigerian. He does not discriminate on the grounds of tribe, religion or geography. As Speaker of the House of Representatives this was very evident in his selection of his immediate aides and staff from all religions, cultures, ethnic groups and regions in the country.

A man who loves wearing mostly white clothes, as a constant reminder of his covenant with a life of purity, is an uncommon bridge builder across the many tribes, religions and geographical contours in the country. This makes him comfortable being in any part of the country. On record, he has travelled to all the nooks and crannies of the country, to honour friends and associates, sometimes to the surprise of his hosts.

As Speaker of the House of Representatives, he was reputed to have visited nearly all the country homes of his colleagues in the House who had milestones to celebrate.

AWT has a super knack for listening, which makes it easy for him to accommodate all shades of opinions and leanings. Forever in pursuit of knowledge, Tambuwal believes that it is in the maze of the exchange of ideas, convictions and discussions that the best in people and issues can sprout.

His quest for and pursuit of the general good has benefited immensely from his forgiving heart. This was most tested during his election to the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives. It was a very fractious campaign that called to question his personal security at many times and pitched him against his colleague from Oyo State, the anointed preference of the Executive arm of government. Once the election was over, Tambuwal let go of all acrimonies, choosing instead to rally everyone, including all those who opposed him, together for the common good – a united and forward looking House of Representatives.

Tambuwal is a Muslim who believes in religious tolerance and a society where all the religions should co-exist peacefully.

He has an enduring disposition to the welfare of the poor and needy in the society. This has informed his charity works and contributions over the years and personal sacrifices for the education of the poor and underprivileged in the society.  No person with need ever leaves his presence without receiving some form of succour. Many Nigerians have set up flourishing businesses and schooling as a result of his benevolence.

He is a man of high integrity. His word is his honour. He is fearless in the face of intimidation and threat to personal safety. His mission has been and is still the defence of the superiority of the law and the social contract to manage for public good, public treasury entrusted to his watch.

He has lived up to this promise. Tambuwal was remained clean of financial scandals in all of his public leadership positions. As Speaker he was unblemished, as Governor of Sokoto State, Tambuwal has been a shining example of selflessness and prudence in the management of public finance. He has been quoted to say that government must show value for money.

His public life has been driven by a quest for a society where the wealthy and strong must use their expertise and strength to ensure a system where the weak can find space and encouragement to excel. Tambuwal has been an example in the service of humanity.

ACADEMIC LIFE

As a young man, Tambuwal imbibed early the importance of knowledge and learning. It all began at the Tambuwal Primary School, Tambuwal, Sokoto State, where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate in 1979. From there he proceeded to Government Teachers’ College, Dogon-Daji, Sokoto State, where he obtained a Teachers Grade 11 Certificate in 1984.

It was during a short stint as a teacher that Tambuwal caught the bug of the pervading ideology at that time, for an egalitarian society where the rule of law and education for all are critical elements. But he knew, albeit rightly, that if he was to play a significant role in its enthronement, he needed to be a lawyer. So he applied to read law at Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, and was admitted.

He graduated with an LLB (Hons) degree in 1991 and was called to the Nigerian Bar after completing his legal studies at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos, a year later where he obtained his Barrister at Law, BL.

SPECIALIST TRAINING

To further the frontiers of his learning, Tambuwal also attended several specialist courses abroad which has helped shape and prepare him for the rigours and expectations of top public office.

Some of the courses include Leadership in parliamentary oversight, University of Cambridge, Judge Business School, UK, May 2014; Managing Teams for Innovation and Success, Stanford University, San Fransisco, USA, June 2013; Strategic Leadership, University of Oxford, UK, May 2012.

Other specialist training AWT availed himself of include; Telecoms Regulatory Master Class–Bath UK, 2004; Law making for the Communications Sectors –BMIT, Johannesburg, South Africa, 2004; Regulating a Competitive Industry-UK, Brussels, 2005; Tulane University – International Legislative Drafting, 2005; Stanford Graduate School of Business – Influence and Negotiation, 2008 and KSG Harvard – Infrastructure in Market Economy.

EARLY LEADERSHIP ROLES

On graduation, Tambuwal emptied himself into private law practice. On the side, he was also a very active member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Sokoto State. It was not long before his leadership qualities were noticed and requested for by his colleagues.

He was by popular acclaim elected at several times to elective positions in the NBA in the State and at the national level. First it was as Public Relations Officer between 1996 and 1997. Sokoto State Branch Secretary (1997–1998), Member of the Constitution Review Committee of the NBA (1997–1998).  Assistant National Financial Secretary (1998–2000) and from 2000 and 2002, he was Assistant National Secretary NBA.

Tambuwal also served and represented the NBA in several non – elective positions. He is a Life Member of the Body of Benchers, Nigeria; Member International Bar Association, and Member American Bar Association among others.

POLITICAL CAREER

Tambuwal believes in a strong and independent Legislature. He favours a robust Legislature in a presidential system of government. He also believes in cooperation between the Legislature and the Executive to deliver good governance to the people.

It was these believes that led to his decision to present himself for service as a member of the House of Representatives and was elected to represent Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal constituency of Sokoto State in 2003 on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP.

By 2004, he became the Minority Leader of the House, from which position he rallied and mobilised his colleagues into the strongest opposition movement the House of Representatives ever witnessed. His rare leadership qualities were acknowledged by his colleagues as equal to none.

By this time the political situation in Sokoto State had changed dramatically. After wide range consultations with his constituents Tambuwal agreed to re-contest for the Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal Constituency under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.  He won.

Now no longer in the opposition in the House, Tambuwal was easily elected the Deputy Chief Whip of the House, which was the only Principal Officer position zoned to the North West at that time, allowing him to bring his vast legislative experience and leadership to bear on the management of the larger segment of the House.

In 2011, when Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal again stood for and won election to the House of Representatives, he had become one of the most experienced and ranking members of House.

By then, Tambuwal’s integrity, knowledge of the rules and procedure of the House had made him an asset to his colleagues and the legislative activities of the House.

It was therefore not surprising that when the time came to elect a Speaker for the House, Tambuwal was the preferred candidate of his colleagues. His nationalistic vision, his leadership by consensus, and his popularity with people across party, religion and ethnic lines, had earned him their trust to lead the 7th House of Representatives as Speaker.

Undeterred by the rancour of the campaign that characterised his election as Speaker and the sometimes man made pits that were sponsored and dug by the leadership of his own party, Tambuwal went on to supervise a very successful House of Representatives, devoid of the controversies, corruption and jostling for power.

LEADERSHIP ROLES 

Tambuwal is a man of many parts who has been able to distinguish himself in all of them.  Some of his other achievements include:  Leader of the Nigerian Delegation to African, Caribbean, Pacific and European Union Joint Parliamentary Assembly; Leader of the Federal Government team to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia regarding the controversial denial of visas to Nigerian female pilgrims;  Member, International Bar Association, Member, Nigerian bar Association; Member, National Executive Committee Nigerian Bar Association; Alumnus, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard, USA; Alumnus, Oxford University; Stanford Graduate School of Business, USA; Alumnus, Tulane University, USA; Alumnus, Usman Danfodio University Sokoto; Alumnus, Nigerian Law School; Regional Representative Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Variously State Organising Secretary and Legal Adviser of Political Parties, Distinguished member of the highest professional decision making body of the Nigerian Legal Profession-The Body of Benchers.

AWARD GALLERY

Tanbuwal’s political and public life has been a harvest of awards of excellence and recognition. Even in Sokoto state where he has been governor for just three years, he has been recognised with the UNESCO 2018 Education Solution Stakeholders Award for his pursuits and service to the people in the field of education. While presenting the award at the United Nations headquarters Millennium hotel in New York, USA, Chairman of the award committee Dr Hul Hsu said the award is in recognition “of his selfless contribution to quality education in his state”

The long list of other awards in his closet now include the following:  Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR); Abdullahi Gwandu Leadership Award by Gwandu Emirate Council, Kebbi State; Leadership Newspaper’s Politician of the Year 2011; Sun Newspaper’s Man of the Year 2012; Best Performing Governor in Education in Nigeria by BUSINESS DAY and THE AUTHORITY Newspapers (2017); Honorary Doctorate Degree in Law from his alumnus, Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto, December 2012; Honorary Doctorate Degree by the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu, 2013; Sokoto State Government Merit Award, 2012; Prise La Foundation 2013 by Crans Montana Forum on Africa and South-South Cooperation, Brussels, 2012; Zik Leadership Award in Public Service, among others.

In addition, Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal holds important traditional titles from various Kingdoms, Chiefdoms and Emirates in Nigeria. Among such include, Osagie of Opoji Kingdom in Edo State, Obong Ufan of Akwa Ibom, Udonyi Oro of Oron nation also in Akwa Ibom, Bubagunwa of Ekiti in Ekiti State and Maidawakin Gashaka in Taraba State, Ikeoha Aba Ngwa by Ukwa/Ngwa Traditional Rulers Council, Abia state and Aridunnu of Ijero Kingdom in Ijero Ekiti. On Saturday, September 27, 2014, he was turbaned the Mutawalle of Sokoto Caliphate by Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III.

Many years after, reminiscing on his life and achievements in public service, his colleague in the House of Representatives then and now the Majority Leader of the House, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila (APC, Lagos) describes Tambuwal’s leadership as “exemplary and unparalleled” adding “he (Tambuwal) has an uncanny ability to be at 100 places at the same time. He is a bridge builder per excellence”.

Anselm Okolo is a communications specialist and journalism trainer based in Abuja [email protected]