By Umar Ahmed Tijani
Victoria Island Lagos
Rt. Hon. Ahmed DSW Aliyu became visible public figure, coming to clear focus through his accomplishment as grassroots politician. His life, his convictions and his administration in all his appointment pose an unmistakable challenge to his time to which he was in many other respects so well – attuned.
He had never been paralyzed by challenges or complexity. He worked through complexities intellectually. An outstanding man, his skills as a listener honed in administrative life is transferred to any kind of responsibility bestowed on him and would not cease but rather continue on a superficial way.
These striking characteristics gave his life a remarkably rich texture and endeared him to a lot of people he worked with and those who worked with him. In all his business transactions with associates he pain stake and carefully exercise the exceptional privilege to serve, he pain stake and carefully exercise the exceptional privilege to serve. He is a large figure indeed and not simply because of the privilege position he found himself but because of the integrity with which even his most implacable critics concede he wields.
As a young man, Wadada worked in urban cities where he found dignity and peace. He recognized common humanity and knows that words and bold act help meet peoples need. His formative years built his capacity to lead and serve the needs of people under him. In all his appointment he takes concrete steps to succeed.
Educated at Abdu Zanga Primary School, Keffi, Government Secondary School, Miango, Jos, School of Preliminary Studies, Keffi and Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, quite an intelligent and brilliant personality, he had a straight run through his educational pursuit.
DSW, a man of real fibre and of brilliant achievement in his career, charismatic and calm; an enthralling mix of cultured intellect and sheer hard work had a successful administrative career despite the enormous challenges and obstacles that came his way. With a sharp and clear analytical mind, he is a risk taker. A personable man and an excellent conversationalist, DSW is someone with confidence that you cannot help admiring, even if you hate him.
He is a great brand politician and effective human resource manager, who have the face to advertise his achievement. He never forgets favour done to him neither does he remember wrong done to him. A role model, someone with the interest of all those under his ambit at heart which reflect in the way he goes about the finest role he always brought to position of responsibilities he held; An administrator per excellence and a man with impeccable integrity, a workaholic and prudent manager of both human and material resources, a trusted companion and a good friend. He touches many lives for good.
Stepping back from the conventional analysis and looking at this well-known public figure from a different angle from inside the convictions and commitment that makes him who he is. It may help to begin by thinking of him as a man who grew up very fast. The events that shaped his early life developed his interest and concern, a function of his particular, specific and radical political commitment, the very structure which is dramatic. His radicalism is a simplicity that lies on the far side of complexity to which he is very much attuned with.
DSW recognizes his goal to a reach which requires dedication and sacrifice. With a strong fighting spirit he overcomes formidable obstacles which goes to show that fear is no match for dream when he ventured into active politicking after his administrative career. This provided him opportunity to meet with politicians of repute both in government and out of government bringing about his political connectivity. With the power to make a sudden decision and hold to it with passion and tenacity, when he ventured into politics, DSW astonished those who thought they knew him. Though he did not completely break with his past life but in politics he was moving forward to something new. A revolution in his thoughts and his relationship with others in the field of politics came to the fore. He ignited a fire that would continue to burn for a long time in the politics of Nasarawa State though he was one brick in the wall.
However, as an astute politician, he became the bricks making a road way for youths to walk to their goal. With hidden forces that usually produce the strongest action, Hon. DSW embedded with such forces brought a careful thought-out view of youth restiveness situation to his responsibilities investing in the future of the youth by creating self-employment opportunity for them. An inner quality of his that attracts popular cheer and confidence as source of solution to the needs of the youths. He is progressive, thus became the focus of the aspirations of the younger generation. With his privilege position, DSW has made a tremendous impact on the life of the youths of Nasarawa State because he speaks and understands their language.
Standing up for the right of every youth, opening the doors of opportunity to the youths, it was the beginning of hope for the children of the down trodden masses of the society. However, how well the lucky ones use that opportunity is another thing in entirely.
One outstanding quality of Hon. DSW is his ability to attract people to himself despite all odds. He tries as much as he can to assistants all those who come his way for help. He does not keep the benefit attached to his privilege position to himself or to his immediate family or even to his close political associates but rather extend it to all and sundry. When it comes to assisting the needy, Hon. DSW is generous to a fault, considering his childhood background, he does not wish for anyone to lack the basic need of life and so he tries as much as he can to reach out to the less privilege in the society because he does not attribute all human ills to economic conditions but to man’s relationship with fellow man and with God his Creator. With this conviction in his sub- consciousness, arguably Hon. DSW has made a great impact on the lives of more individual than any other of his contemporary.
From childhood, DSW shows signs of leadership as well as an achiever. He was Class Monitor and Senior Prefect in his primary school days at Abdu Zanga Primary School, and Social Prefect at Government Secondary School, Miango. Consolidating on his experience, courage, the power of his mind, his knowledge and strategy with calm judgment, a positive ambition young man, he ventured into active politicking on the platform of People Democratic Party (PDP). His reputation as an outreach personality and prestige with his people was at its height within this period. A man of many talents; he consciously built his public support from the grassroots, doing the little ordinary things that matters to his people and the community in an extraordinary way. He was an able speaker, and he spoke often at any given opportunity which won him admiration among his people. As a mark of his political strength he won election into Federal House of Representative for the 2003 – 2007 Session (Representing Keffi, Karun and Kokona Federal Constituency) on the platform of the PDP.
He was re-elected in 2007based on his outstanding performance in the House. He was the pioneer Chairman of the House Committee on Capital Market and Institutions as well as Member of various House Committees between 2003 and 2010. He was the one who initiated the Freedom of Information Bill (FOI) on the floor of the House. Most of his political ideas that were beneficiary to his people were from past experience.
His action mostly dictated by his religious belief as a Muslim help him to arrange his life in orderly way. Self-conscious, he dresses neatly in variety of colours. In his private relations, he is generous, compassionate, and ever willing to serve. Having avidly absorbed every available influence of life in his administrative career and social life he is oppose to tribalism and religious discrimination thus make him the tribune and the defender of the people.
DSW, a man of good heart with a generous intention of genteel education and amiable character is a symbol of freedom and hope not only to his immediate family but to all within his orbit. A very modest and reserved person, he shrink from publicity, he will not talk readily about himself. A solid player in both human and community development-the last man defence, putting out fires when called upon; it’s a role Hon. DSW has been playing with unparalleled skill at serving mankind.
With a very orderly life, DSW’s work revolved around community-based development; grappling with what he belief are the most important issues of life. His humanitarian work nourishes those vital aspects of the community.
With the awareness of the power of the media, Hon. DSW whose love for his people is apparent in his deeds as well as his countenance. A single purpose machine; he put a positive ideas into motion. He loves the media and thus put his name, money and time behind the establishment of a radio station (Melody FM) to create genuine public enlightenment about real life issues; to take up the responsibility of a guide in the daily life of the people. Shaping and reshaping opinion, attitudes and perceptions through messages and magazine programmes. His dream of owning a media outfit have had major impact, making dreams come true for a whole set of generation. He created an avenue for employment and self-development opportunities that initiative of an individual can produce.
As his fortune increases in leaps and bounds, he brought together like-minds who had interest in the game of Polo and invested in organizing the annual Keffi Polo tournament with foreign polo players from Argentina, South Africa, United Kingdom and USA participating, thus boosting the economic activities of Keffi Town and its environs as well as putting Keffi on the world map of sport.
After his House of Representative years, he stayed away from elective post and ventured into private business to solidified and consolidate his political gains. Within this period, he however, continued to build his public support, reaching out to provide for his peoples pressing needs becoming knowledgeable about the nitty-gritty of grassroots politics demonstrating his capacity to attract loyalty with his impressive negotiating skills, having understood the sense of responsibility, he developed a distinctive way of approaching problems and taking decisions. He is very good at getting things done despite obstacles-including the obstacle that ‘it’s never been done before.’ With the political crisis that came rocking the then ruling PDP, he joined the factional n-PDP. And with the formation of the All Progressive Congress (APC) party, he decamped and joined the party. Having been on the sideline after his House of Representative years, he ventured into the mainstream of his home state political terrain to contest the primary election for the ticket of the state governorship election in 2018. He lost his bid as the first runner up.
Three (3) though an odd number is DSW’s lucky number, in 2003, he won his election into the Federal House of Representative. Twenty years after, in 2023 to test his popularity, he kindled interest to contest for the Nasarawa West Senatorial seat on the platform of the APC. He encountered stiff opposition to his ambition, he decamped and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on the platform he contested for the senatorial election and won based on the strength of his popularity. A remarkable feat considering that Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, the National Chairman of the ruling APC is from that Senatorial District.
As DSW takes his rightful seat at the Senate, he has proved beyond any reasonable doubt that he is a grassroots politician as well as the catalysts needed in political and social changes in Nasarawa State today. He is a thorough going political pragmatist who has learned the game of politicking by rote. He sees his goal, understands the obstacles, created a positive mental picture, clears his mind of self-doubt, embraced the challenge, stayed on track and show that he can do it. His formative year’s experiences in a sense have being a preparation for effective political participation, it has constructed the architecture of his distinctive political attitude, sharpen and modify his thinking on political issues particularly the nature of governance and the character of leadership that impact on ordinary citizen at the grassroots. With his robust vision and mission to contribute to the good fortunes of the people of Nasarawa State and North central at large; a breathing action politician, smart with charming life, he is set to play active role within the North central Senate caucus to secure the Deputy Senate office for the geo-political zone.
Distinguished Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu is the catalyst for change in the politics of Nasarawa State as well as the North central geo-political zone for the future.