A CALL FOR DECORUM, GRATITUDE, AND STATESMANSHIP
Recent remarks attributed to the Governor of Nasarawa state, His Excellency, Engr Abdullahi A. Sule, on Arise Television, where he responded to issues relating to who occupies the government house, come 2027, have provoked justified consternation among thoughtful stakeholders across Nasarawa State. In his remarks, he simultaneously acknowledged Distinguished Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura as his “mentor”, while deploying language that seeks to diminish the person of Al-Makura. Such a contradiction is not merely unfortunate, it is fundamentally flawed. I will tell you why.
Leadership is not an exercise in convenience. You can’t in good conscience, lay claim to the tutelage and political goodwill of a benefactor, and in the same breath attempt to disparage him publicly. A Chinese Proverbs says; “You can’t cut off a man’s nose and give him roses to smell.
It should be stated without equivocation: the legacy of Senator Al-Makura is neither speculative nor subject to revisionist narratives. It is glaring and firmly etched in the political and developmental architecture of Nasarawa State. His tenure as governor, and his continuous role as a national figure are defined by verifiable achievements. By all standards, Senator Al-makura qualifies to be called an institution. To diminish such a record through careless rhetoric is not only intellectually disingenuous; it is politically reckless.
Mentorship is not a rhetorical device to be invoked when expedient. It is a covenant of respect, loyalty, and enduring acknowledgment. The Governor’s failed attempt to trivialize the far reaching role of his mentor in the public arena undermines the very moral fabric upon which credible leadership is built.
Those who occupy positions of authority must understand that their words are neither idle nor inconsequential. They carry institutional weight, shape public perception, and set the tone for political engagement. An African adage says: “Words are like grains, easy to scatter, but difficult to gather”.
We therefore call on His Excellency, Governor A.A Sule to exercise greater circumspect and employ intellectual honesty and deep respect for people who deserve it in his public engagements. Where differences exist, they should be addressed with maturity and discretion; not through statements that project ingratitude and erode the dignity of leadership.
Nasarawa State deserves leadership grounded in truth, consistency, and a clear appreciation of history.
History is neither indifferent nor forgetful: it records, with unerring precision, not only the achievements of leaders but also the tenor of their words, the discipline of their conduct, and the grace with which they honour those who shaped their journey.
Hon. Mohammed I. Usman writes from Lafia
