Does the name Alhaji Tanko Yakasai ring a bell, and what is he best known for?
Alhaji Tanko Yakasai is widely regarded as a living archive of Nigeria’s political history and one of the last surviving figures of the generation that fought for the country’s independence.
Beyond his status as an elder statesman, he is a veteran politician, activist and journalist who recently marked his 100th birthday.
Born on December 5, 1925, in the Kofar Mata quarters of Kano City, Yakasai spent much of his formative years in the Yakasai district, from which he derived his surname.
Although he lacked formal education in his early years, his determination for self improvement was remarkable. He pursued self education through evening classes and later undertook specialised courses in comparative federalism and development at the University of Ibadan’s Extramural Department.
Yakasai was actively involved in Nigeria’s struggle for self determination. A self described Marxist Leninist, he was a founding member of the Northern Elements Progressive Union alongside Mallam Aminu Kano. NEPU emerged as a radical political movement that championed the rights of the common people and played a significant role in the anti colonial struggle.
He is also a founding member of the Arewa Consultative Forum and remains an influential voice in national discourse.
Known for his non adversarial approach to politics, Yakasai has consistently advocated Nigerian unity and national integration.
On contemporary national issues, Yakasai has expressed concerns over separatist agitations, particularly in relation to the South East.
He has argued that persistent unrest could undermine the region’s broader political aspirations, including the prospect of producing a president. He has also warned that calls for self determination could heighten tensions and potentially destabilise the country, a position that groups such as IPOB have publicly challenged by citing international legal provisions for self determination and referendums.
Yakasai’s life stands as a testament to resilience, intellectual depth and an unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s unity and progress. His contributions have earned him respect across the political divide, including recognition from President Bola Tinubu.
Highly regarded across Northern Nigeria, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai is widely seen as a national treasure, often described as a living archive and a moral compass not only for the North but for the entire nation.
He is revered as a principled leader whose decades of public service continue to inspire younger generations.
Across Nigeria, leaders and citizens alike pay close attention to his views on national issues, recognising that his perspectives are shaped by lived experience across multiple eras of the country’s history.
Those who have had personal encounters with him continue to pray for his good health, long life and the emergence of more leaders of his calibre in Nigeria.
Alhaji Tanko Yakasai at 100: A Living Archive of Nigeria’s Political History
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