Elder statesman Tanko Yakasai turns 100, son Salihu pays tribute
Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, a prominent Nigerian politician, human rights activist, and elder statesman, clocked 100 years today, December 5, 2025.
His son, Salihu Tanko Yakasai, took to X (formerly Twitter) to celebrate his father’s remarkable century of life, describing it as “an extraordinary life” filled with historical significance, resilience, and enduring good health.
In his emotional tribute, Salihu wrote: “What an extraordinary life. Today, my father, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, marks 100 years on earth. A full century. He has witnessed colonial rule, the struggles that shaped Nigeria’s independence, and the many victories and trials that followed. In many of these defining moments, he wasn’t just a witness — he was a key player!”
He continued: “Living to 100 is remarkable, but reaching this milestone with a clear mind, strong spirit, and good health is a blessing only a few ever experience.”
Salihu highlighted his father’s large family, noting that the centenarian is married to four wives and is father to 23 children (19 surviving), as well as a beloved grandfather and great-grandfather to nearly a hundred descendants.
He described his father’s life as “a tapestry of resilience, service, and wisdom” from which the family continues to draw strength.
Profile of a Political Titan
Born on December 5, 1925, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai OFR is a founding member of the Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU), a leading leftist political movement in Northern Nigeria during the 1950s and 1960s. A self-described Marxist-Leninist in his early years, he played an active role in the anti-colonial and pro-democracy struggles.
He later served as Commissioner in Kano State under Military Governor Audu Bako and as Special Assistant on National Assembly Matters to President Shehu Shagari during the Second Republic (1979–1983). He is also a founding member of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), a socio-political platform for the North.
Throughout his long career, Yakasai has remained a vocal advocate for justice, national unity, and good governance.
As he turns 100 in sound health and mind, Nigerians across the country have joined the Yakasai family in celebrating one of the last surviving bridges between colonial Nigeria and the present democratic dispensation.
