365 Days Of Marked Leadership: Dr. Umar Tanko Yakasai’s Indelible Footprints 

OMOGBOLAHAN BABAWALE

One year ago, precisely December 18, 2024, the Convener of Tinubu Support Group (TSG), the umbrella body of all support groups for President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu and who also is the current member representing the good people of Ikeja Federal Constituency at the Federal House of Representatives – the Green Chamber,  Hon. Dr James Abiodun Faleke, in far away Kano announced the appointment of Dr. Umar Tanko Yakasai as the Director-General of the Tinubu Support Group – TSG.

A chip off the old block. Dr. Yakasai, the son of foremost centenarian nationalist and elderstateman, Pa Tanko Yakasai did not get his appointment through the usual ‘man-know-man’ politicking idiosyncratic of Nigeria’s politics. His appointment to serve was based on his track record of sterling performance.

The other day, Yours truly was at the Tinubu Support Group – TSG secretariat located on Kanji Crescent, off Lake Chad Crescent, Maitama District, where the umbrella group hosted the former Deputy Governor of Kano State, Dr. Gawuna who had come on a courtesy visit. I saw, with first hand, organisation, capacity, and leadership how the event went with several other support groups in attendance. The organisation was topnotch. And the event – epoch-making. At the event, I not only saw the plethora of accolades showered on the Dr. Yakasai for his forthright leadership in steering the canoe of the group, I witnessed genuine assessment of an unassuming, unpretentious, and a selfless leader by various individuals. An apple does not fall off a mango tree is the popular cliché. For him – Dr. Yakasai, it is hereditary.

In my considered opinion as a public affairs analyst, I have examined the leadership of Dr. Umar Tanko Yakasai in the last 365 days of his assumption of office as the numero uno of the Group, and I can say without equivocation that the last one year as the Director-General has been marked with effulgent and quality-driven leadership. And deliverables woven around people-centric touches. I am therefore compelled to make the following submissions about a man who has now become more of a servant than a leader he is appointed to be.

MY ASSESSMENT

A survey assessment from countless members of different support groups will attest to the open and shut fact that since his appointment was announced by the Convener, Rt. Hon. James Faleke, Dr. Yakasai has not left anyone in doubt as to his leadership quality. He hit the ground running with marked humility, decency, and service to humanity. Of course, he got that trait from his father right from childhood. Dr. Yakasai brought service with measurable leadership traits – dedication, competence, loyalty, commitment, and people-o-logy (sic).

DEDICATION – The last 365 days have witnessed a man displayed excessive dedication with an overdose of nationalism to a cause he believes in. Dr. Yakasai’s dedication to Mr. President’s administration and his leadership idiosyncrasies is not in doubt. Recent events in the country where many took the side of naysaying, especially in the wake of recent upsurge in insecurity which was not far from being politically orchestrated, Dr. Yakasai showed utmost dedication to the country, his fatherland, and President Bola Tinubu, his father, leader, and the Commander-in-Chief. He stood committed to what binded us together as a people with one destiny – united in purpose and brotherhood.

COMPETENCE – In my over 5 decades of existence, I have worked with leaders – boardroom managers and otherwise, political leaders as well business managers. In Dr. Yakasai, I saw a visionary whose finesse is result. He is always passionate about achieving target goals. If there is any fault attributable to the son of Yakasai, definitely it will not come from the purview of competence. He has, in this regard carved a niche for himself. He has shown competence by all standards and metrics.

LOYALTY – Like I mentioned recently about his fellow compatriot, Dr. Daniel Bwala, the Special Adviser/Spokesperson to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Media & Public Communications, Dr. Yakasai exudes same level of loyalty. Loyalty is everything! And like Mario Puzo, American author and screenwriter once said, “…The strength of a family, like the strength of an army, is in its loyalty to each other.” A loyal acolyte, party faithful or liege man of your school of thought is a great asset that must be treasured any time any day. Dr. Yakasai has consistently remained epigonic to President Tinubu’s political philosophy. He is loyal in every sense of it. His actions and inaction hitherto attest to this fact.

COMMITMENT – Even the most acerbic cynic knows and agrees that Dr. Yakasai in the last one year has so far shown absolute commitment to his responsibilities as the number one support pillar of Mr. President. His passion at rallying members of the party to remain supportive of Mr. President despite growing concerns, rightly so, of many, arising from obvious neglect by the party and its leadership is highly commendable. At every opportunity, he is not shy to decry the neglect of Support groups and people who toiled day and night to bring about today’s leadership, but are themselves neglected quotidian. He’s shown his character as a leader committed to the wellness of his footsoldiers.

PEOPLE-O-LOGY – As a goal-getter who is never again a goner when it comes to carrying people, better said, members of support groups across board along in his modus operandi, Dr. Yakasai stands tall as a man of the people, a man loved by the people, and a man believed in by the people. Whether in his office as the Director-General of the Tinubu Support Group (TSG), or his office in the Presidential Villa as the Special Adviser to the Special Adviser to Mr. President on Health, it is always like a market place. Such is the trait of a leader who is loved by people. He carries everybody along. He believes no one should be left out of the windfall. Hence, his commitment to see that everybody is treated as somebody regardless of their race, belief or class. No one today, not even the weirdest misanthrope will say Dr. Yakasai is selfish. He did not earn the sobriquet, ‘Capacity Leader’ by heroworshipping or showmanship. He earned it by dint of his people-centric impact.

CONCLUSION

The Yakasai that I have come to know and interact with in more than 6 months is far from being perfect. He is not because he is human. But one thing that remains incontrovertible is his passion to see an egalitarian Nigeria where everybody has equal stake without fear or favour. His undying desire to see President Tinubu succeed against all odds, and his undeniable love to see every faithful party member and support group reap the benefit of their loyalty and commitment to the party and Mr. President remain centripetal to his quiddity.

With the personage of Dr. Yakasai that I have understudied, he is a huge potential waiting to be unleashed in no time to come for nation building. He is not only a material, but a treasurable asset to mine for the good of the nation.

– Omogbolahan L.A. BABAWALE
Convener/Lead Resource Person
The Think-Tinubu Initiative (3TI)
Director, South West & FCT
Pastor Reuben Initiative for Good Leadership & Accountability (PRIFGLA)
officialczar2@gmail.com