TAMBUMWAL AT 51: THE EMERGENCE OF NEW NORTHERN POWER-BROKER
Aminu Tambuwal’s simple mien and gentle disposition utterly belies the political astuteness and greatness of this amiable and jolly good fellow who has risen to the very top of his game.And in a political career spanning two decades, Tambuwal’s continual rise and exploits in the nation’s political arena is gradually positioning him beside the giants from all the six geo-political zones in the country.His meteoric rise to the top flight of the Nigerian politics has been achieved in a very stylish way – a way that was laced with many tough and seemingly insurmountable odds.
Still adhering strictly to the values and ideals of early life,and humble beginnings,the ever-smiling Tambuwal rode through the thorny roads of the school of hard knocks.His parental guidance and tutelage have always been his guiding light and pathfinder. May your road be rough! So goes that saying of old, the one that usually prepares one for the challenges and vissicitudes of life. And life journey for Aminu Tambuwal has not been particularly rosy and smooth especially since his foray into the murky waters the politics of bitterness being practised in this part of the world.
As a bridge-builder and a detrabalised Nigerian, Tambuwal’s list of friends is eclectic and mixed. He is not only seen as a unifying factor in many political fora or arrangement, he is also been tipped by many of his admirers as somebody who could provide the much-needed but somewhat elusive magical wand that could truly lay the foundation of a modern and all-inclusive Nigeria that will put our sordid political past into our distant memory.
Now, at 51, Tambuwal is fast becoming a political giant and one to be reckoned with in the North,nay Nigeria.Not only has he done enough for himself in many spheres, Tambuwal’s political sagacity has put him in an enviable position which many of his peers can only but dream of. No one would have thought the amiable gentleman could handle the various issues that almost marred his tenure as the Speaker of the lower Federal House but he was able to pull it off,effortlessly too.
Even the Caliphate is now breathing a new life because of this new kid on the block whose charm,warmth personality and understated power to achieve the seemingly impossible has brought about this renewed confidence in the future of this institution of high repute.At such a tender age in politics, Tambuwal exudes the confidence and aura of a statesman who has garnered the much-needed wealth of experience that usually comes with decades of hob-nobbling with the movers and shakers of society.
Many commentators and analysts are probably not paying due attention to this silent achiever and go getter, but as things stand today, Aminu Tambuwal is now a super power house in this polity, one that is ready to take the centre stage in the nation’s political arena when the opportunity presents itself.
Aminu was born on January 10, 1966 in Tambuwal Village in Sokoto State to Waziri Tambuwal.
He attended Tambuwal Primary School, Tambuwal, Sokoto State, where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate in 1979; and Government Teachers’ College, Dogon-Daji, where he obtained the Teachers Grade 11 Certificate in 1984. He then proceeded to Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, where he studied Law, graduating with an LLB (Hons) degree in 1991. He completed his one-year compulsory legal studies at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos, obtained his BL and was called to the Bar in 1992.[3]
Besides studying for his law degree, he has also attended several courses abroad, among which are the following: Telecoms Regulatory Master Class–Bath UK, 2004; Lawmaking 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, 200
Among his professional affiliations, Tambuwal has been a very active member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), over the years. He started off as Public Relations Officer of the NBA, Sokoto State chapter between 1996 and 1997. He was a member of the Constitution Review Committee of the NBA (1997–1998). He was the Sokoto branch Secretary of the Association (1997–1998) and Assistant National Financial Secretary of the NBA (1998–2000)
From 2000 and 2002, he was the 1st Assistant National Secretary of the Association. He is also a member of the Body of Benchers, Nigeria; International Bar Association, and the American Bar Association among others.
