Adamawa State Northern Senatorial Zone is certainly one notable Zone that produced more Governors who managed the affairs of Adamaw State since creation.The zone was opportuned to have experienced leaderships of Sale Michika( of beloved memory) Wilberforce Juta, Boni Haruna, Barr. Bala Nglari,Rt Hon Umaru Fintiri governors,and currently an active and rated as one of the “most performing Governors in the country, Senator Muhammadu Umaru Jibrilla Bindow.”Not to talk of notable officers who held senior positions
In government such as Buba Marwa and Alexander Badeh who hail from this zone. The zone produced and still
producing notable Men and Women of high integrity.
Taking a look at the civilian and the military Administrators and Governors the zone gave birth to, it is good to note that the zone also have many business tycoons of international repute, with the likes of Late Umaru Jibrilla, A A Duhu, Alhaji Yakubu, among others. All these great Men and women had distinctively given the zone a glorious image with their outstanding performance whether in Government or in Business arena.
Other prominent Sons of the zone opportuned to have occupied strategic positions in the Nigerian political scene include-
Former Head of Service of the federation , Alh sali Isa Bello, former EFCC BOSS ,Ibrahim Lamorde, former political adviser to the then Vice president Goodluck Jonathan during Yar’aduwa’s regime Barr. Ali Gulak.
Educationally this zone is having quite a number of distinguished people who are considered field marshals in the field of Academics-such as Senator Prof Iya Abubakar the first professor in Mathematics in the whole of northern state, Prof Musa Yakubu,SAN, Dr Yaro Gella, prof Barkindo who was also a federal Permsec, prof Abba Waziri Hassan, prof Ibrahim, Prof Jacob Kwagga, prof Tahir Mamman, SAN and a host of many others.
This great zone had equally produced Men of high leadership quality as senators of the Federal republic of Nigeria. People Like Senator Paul Wampana, Senator Manna, Senator Muhammad Umaru Jibrilla Bindow (the present Governor of Adamawa State) , which senators gave their best, shared out their treasures, gave out their share of representation pretty well without building walls of political enmities. To some of these Men their arduous service to humanity have catapulted to greater heights in representing their people in different fields.
Prof Tahir Mamman as noted above is first among equals who is known to be reliable and capable in all the assignments he has ever been appointed to do. He is reported to be a trusted fellow and an enigma with virtue for excellent work any where he finds himself.
Recently, the view of so many people from that political axis is suggesting that there is a deep outcry from the Old and Young, elites and the non elites wanting to shop for another senator to represent the zone. This according to some of them, who juxtapose the achievements and holistic delegation Of Governor Muhammadu Umaru Jibrilla Bindow when he was a Senator,the ladder he rode to be the present Governor of the State because of his sterling leadership performance on people focused agenda.
To many people, although the present Lawmaker in the red chamber “is doing her best, there is a need to pave way for others to go and take things to a higher level , while to many others the present senator remains legible to contest while the electorate will have the final say.” According to many they want a Man or woman representative that will not make them feel deeply side-lined, abandoned, chagrined and mortified after being elected.
From Madagali to Michika, from Mubi North to Mubi South down to Maiha, there seem to be a yearning for a new Senator who is confident, experienced in the affairs of the country and administration and who is available to serve the needs of the electorate at large
irrespective of political party alliances, who is willing and ready to help irrespective of who voted or voted not. The zone seems to be looking for a leader with a coming back attitude, Man or woman that will make the zone their number one priority. This time around it is said, the people of Northern zone are looking for an intelligent, selfless, kind-hearted, hardworking and humane representative . A person who will be a reference point in leadership locally and in the country.
At present one can feel the strong desire of the people yearning for another person to represent them in the Northern zone whose thunderous voice will be heard in the entire Federation for a meaningful contribution at the National Assembly, someone who will not be shy or short of rhetorics or theories at heated debates that will help to resolve problems.
Now the Conscientious voice of these people is looking at a good character personified in tested leadership, a performer and destiny shaping Personality. Now the zones glaring eyes seems to sight the heroe academics, the real son of the soil, the giant star among stars in the horizon of the zone, an eagle whose indelible records of achievements, unique style of leadership is well known. The general concern and outcry over poor representation should soon be over as good and able people are being noticed to have thrown their hat in the ring. One of such persons that has done that recently from the zone is the vastly experienced and nationally known and respected professor of law who is also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria ably following the footsteps of his teacher in the person of Prof Musa Yakubu, SAN. The senatorial zone couldn’t be luckier. This person who is now vying to be the senator for Adamawa North is Tahir Mamman. A bit about him as follows as known in the public domain as follows:-
Professor Tahir Mamman hails from Michika Local Government, Adamawa State. An ABU Alumnus, he had his LLB in Zaria and obtained LLM and Ph.D from the University of Warwick, United Kingdom.
Tahir spent 17 years teaching law at the University of Maiduguri and held many administrative and academic leadership positions there before he was appointed pioneer Deputy Director General and Head of the Kano Campus of the Nigerian Law School in 2001 .In 2005, he was promoted to head the legal institution as a whole as it’s Director General, the first northerner to head that prestigious institution that produces manpower for the entire judiciary and the legal profession.To the credit of Professor Tahir Mamman,SAN,the Yola campus of the Nigerian law school was established through his efforts bringing the institution closer home and also followed the footsteps of great sons of Adamawa such as Prof Jibril Aminu who brought a university to Adamawa. Prof Aminu incidentally was two term senator for Adamawa central.
Prof Tahir is currently the vice chancellor of the well known private university in the heart of Abuja-Baze University Abuja.
Tahir was conferred with the national honour award of OON in 2011 and became Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2015. He joined politics in 2014 after completing his meritorious tenure as DG, Law School. He contested for the APC governorship primaries held in December 2014 along with three other candidates but lost to the present governor.
Professor Tahir Mamman’s quest to contribute his quota at the highest level in 2019 will see him battle it out with many others queuing up for the seat including of course the incumbent senator.
He is reported already to be quietly making waves in the zone with the attention of critical stakeholders not surprisingly, moving in his direction.
As a man close to traditional institutions, he could also secure their endorsement with ease and increase his support base.He is the Danruwata, Adamawa Emirate Council and Dokaji Mubi Emirate Council. He is also the Garkuwan Nkafa.
This Man seems to be receiving a beckon from the North, South, East and west coast of Northern Zone. The man is said to be well known for putting smiles on the faces of people, humble and accessible. This seems to be giving him a good edge and respect with people who want to give him a platform to continue with his known good works.
With great amount of enthusiasm many people have interest in this philanthropic Man, a diadem ornamental who could showcase the glory, beauty and strength of Adamawa State. This has positioned Tahir in the arena of people who have and are doing great work in their various field of endeavor. Men and women are now watching hopefully to see the dream of Amana coming to a reality, having known this man’s selfless activities and services wherever opportuned.
All over the country, the common refrain now is no more “sack” !!
Communities are yearning to put forward their best and distinguished sons and daughters irrespective of ethnic or religious standing to represent them. It appears Adamawa north has caught the bug. Time will however tell.
By Dan Garba Gado
Opinion writer
Writes from Jimeta
