Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko
Encyclopedia
Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko was elected governor of Sokoto State
, Nigeria
in April 2007, representing the People's Democratic Party
(PDP).
in the United States
. He graduated with a B.Sc. in August 1980.
Returning to Nigeria, he taught at Sokoto Teachers College.
Aliyu Wamakko took a job as Principal Assistant Secretary of Zurmi
Local Government Area
(LGA), later being promoted to Acting Secretary. He worked at Kaura Namoda
LGA, and was appointed Chairman of the Sokoto
LGA from 1986-1987. He became General Manager, Hotel Management and Tourism Board, Sokoto. In March 1992 he was promoted to Director-General, Careers and Special Services, Governor’s Office, Sokoto in March 1992. He was elected Deputy Governor of Sokoto State to Governor Attahiru Bafarawa
in 1999, on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). He was re-elected Deputy Governor for a second term in April 2003. He resigned as Deputy Governor of Sokoto State on 15th March, 2006.
Following an appeal, his election was annulled in April 2008 on the basis that he had still been a member of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) when he won the PDP nomination.
Abdullahi Balarabe Salame
was appointed Acting Governor (11th April - 28th May 2008) while a re-run was arranged.
It was said that the contest was not so much between Wamakko and Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi of the DPP, as between Wamakko and his predecessor Attahiru Bafarawa
, founder of DPP.
Wamakko regained his seat in the May, 2008 re-run. His opponent claimed that the election was rigged and said he would appeal to the courts.
In 2007 Wamakko launched the State Poverty Reduction Agency (SPORA) to run programs such as the youth skills acquisition program.
In September 2009 he pleaded for patience over 2,000 housing units nearing completion, saying they were meant for the people of the state, are limited and cannot even go round. He also stated that the state government would not establish a Micro-finance bank or industries, but would support any individual who wish to do so.
In October 2009, the Sokoto State Commissioner of Justice said that the state was about to prosecute Wamakko's predecessor Attahiru Bafarawa and five others for alleged misappropriation of N2.919 billion. Bafarawa said the Sokoto commission of inquiry had been set up by Wamakko solely in order to discredit him. He said that Wamakko was his deputy whom the House nearly removed for corrupt tendencies, and that "If there were such illegal deductions and withdrawals, he should be in a better position to answer for them."
Bafarawa asked the commission to invite Wamakko to testify so that certain issues could be clarified, but his request was refused on the ground that to do so was beyond the commission's mandate.
Sokoto State
Sokoto State is located in the extreme northwest of Nigeria, near to the confluence of the Sokoto River and the Rima River. As of 2005 it has an estimated population of more than 4.2 million...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
in April 2007, representing the People's Democratic Party
People's Democratic Party (Nigeria)
The People's Democratic Party is a political party in Nigeria. Its policies generally lie towards the right wing of the political spectrum. It has won every single Presidential elections since 1999, namely: 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011, and is the dominant party in the Fourth Republic.-History:In...
(PDP).
Background
Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State was born on 1st March 1953 in Wamakko, Sokoto State. He spent five years (1968-1972) at the Sokoto Teachers’ College. After graduation, he worked as a teacher from 1973-1977 before being admitted to the University of PittsburghUniversity of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He graduated with a B.Sc. in August 1980.
Returning to Nigeria, he taught at Sokoto Teachers College.
Aliyu Wamakko took a job as Principal Assistant Secretary of Zurmi
Zurmi
Zurmi is a Local Government Area in Zamfara State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Zurmi at.It has an area of 2,834 km² and a population of 293,837 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 882....
Local Government Area
Local Government Area
A local government area is an administrative division of a country that a local government is responsible for. The size of an LGA varies by country but it is generally a subdivision of a state, province, division, or territory....
(LGA), later being promoted to Acting Secretary. He worked at Kaura Namoda
Kaura Namoda
Kaura Namoda is a Local Government Area in Zamfara State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Kaura-Namoda, home to the Federal Polytechnic, Kaura-Namoda.It has an area of 868 km² and a population of 281,367 at the 2006 census....
LGA, and was appointed Chairman of the Sokoto
Sokoto
Sokoto is a city located in the extreme northwest of Nigeria, near to the confluence of the Sokoto River and the Rima River. As of 2006 it has a population of 427,760...
LGA from 1986-1987. He became General Manager, Hotel Management and Tourism Board, Sokoto. In March 1992 he was promoted to Director-General, Careers and Special Services, Governor’s Office, Sokoto in March 1992. He was elected Deputy Governor of Sokoto State to Governor Attahiru Bafarawa
Attahiru Bafarawa
Alhaji Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa was governor of Sokoto State in Nigeria from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007.-Early career:He was a local government councillor in charge of Education...
in 1999, on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). He was re-elected Deputy Governor for a second term in April 2003. He resigned as Deputy Governor of Sokoto State on 15th March, 2006.
Governor of Sokoto State
Aliyu Wamakko ran successfully for Governor of Sokoto State in April 2007 on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform, and assumed office on 29th May, 2007.Following an appeal, his election was annulled in April 2008 on the basis that he had still been a member of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) when he won the PDP nomination.
Abdullahi Balarabe Salame
Abdullahi Balarabe Salame
Abdullahi Balarabe Salame is a Nigerian politician who is speaker of the house of Sokoto State, and who served as acting governor of the state from 11 April to 28 May, 2008....
was appointed Acting Governor (11th April - 28th May 2008) while a re-run was arranged.
It was said that the contest was not so much between Wamakko and Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi of the DPP, as between Wamakko and his predecessor Attahiru Bafarawa
Attahiru Bafarawa
Alhaji Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa was governor of Sokoto State in Nigeria from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007.-Early career:He was a local government councillor in charge of Education...
, founder of DPP.
Wamakko regained his seat in the May, 2008 re-run. His opponent claimed that the election was rigged and said he would appeal to the courts.
In 2007 Wamakko launched the State Poverty Reduction Agency (SPORA) to run programs such as the youth skills acquisition program.
In September 2009 he pleaded for patience over 2,000 housing units nearing completion, saying they were meant for the people of the state, are limited and cannot even go round. He also stated that the state government would not establish a Micro-finance bank or industries, but would support any individual who wish to do so.
In October 2009, the Sokoto State Commissioner of Justice said that the state was about to prosecute Wamakko's predecessor Attahiru Bafarawa and five others for alleged misappropriation of N2.919 billion. Bafarawa said the Sokoto commission of inquiry had been set up by Wamakko solely in order to discredit him. He said that Wamakko was his deputy whom the House nearly removed for corrupt tendencies, and that "If there were such illegal deductions and withdrawals, he should be in a better position to answer for them."
Bafarawa asked the commission to invite Wamakko to testify so that certain issues could be clarified, but his request was refused on the ground that to do so was beyond the commission's mandate.