May the good Lord grant you longevity, happiness, Tinubu prays for Yakasai at 98
By Ishaya Ibrahim
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday felicitated with elder statesman and First Republic politician, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, on his 98th birthday.
Yakasai, founding member and member of Board of Trustees of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), was born on December 5, 1925 in the northern Nigerian city of Kano, Yakasai Quarters Kano.
The former Special Assistant to former President Shehu Shagari on National Assembly Liaison is a staunch supporter of Tinubu.
Even at his age, he has remained an activist and an advocate for the less-privileged.
Alhaji Yakasai was the chairman at the 2022 TheNiche Annual Lecture at the MUSON Centre, Lagos, where he advocated the adoption of the French-style presidential system of government in Nigeria.
Yakasai said the imposition of the American presidential system on the country had not done much good because it is too expensive, complex and challenging to operate.
“Another important reason why I am advocating the adoption of the French presidential system is that it is far cheaper to operate and therefore more suitable to our own reality as a developing nation.
“The operation of the American system made administering Nigeria, which is a federal state with diverse nature, more expensive to run and extremely difficult to develop and prosper, unlike many of its sister developing Nations.”
Celebrating Tanko Yakasai at 98, Tinubu described him as “a patriot and one of the noblest men in Nigeria’s history.”
The statement titled, “President Tinubu celebrates Tanko Yakasai at 98,” and signed by Ajuri Ngelale, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, read: “President Bola Tinubu celebrates elder statesman and founding member of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, OFR, on the occasion of his 98th birthday.
“The President joins the Yakasai family, friends and associates in celebrating the distinguished figure who has devoted his life to fight for the unheard masses of our country as well as for justice, the rule of law, and the enthronement of good governance and transparency in public service.
“The President describes the elder statesman as a patriot and one of the noblest men in Nigeria’s history.
“President Tinubu prays that this anniversary of Alhaji Yakasai’s birth will bring fulfilment to the important causes the statesman has boldly fought for.
”May the good Lord grant the nonagenarian longevity and happiness.”