The Nation Newspaper22 Oct 2025
Sokoto: Lessons in shared vision
Magatakarda Aliyu Wamakko
APCLOST
Election2023 Nigerian Senate Elections →
RaceSokoto race →
StateSokoto →
Born1 March 1953 (age 73)
ReligionIslam
EducationUniversity of Pittsburgh
BirthplaceWamako
OccupationPolitician
Summary
Magatakarda Aliyu Wamakko is a Nigerian politician who contested the 2023 Nigerian Senate Elections as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in Sokoto.
In this race · 2023 Nigerian Senate ElectionsAll candidates →
Biography
Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko (born 1 March 1953) is a Nigerian politician who served as governor of Sokoto State, between 2007 and 2015.
Wamakko was born on 1 March 1953 in Wamako, Sokoto State. He spent five years (1968-1972) at the Sokoto Teachers' College. After graduation, he worked as a teacher from 1973 to 1977 before being admitted to the University of Pittsburgh in the United States.
He graduated with a B.Sc. in August 1980. Returning to Nigeria, he taught at Sokoto Teachers College.
Wamakko took a job as Principal Assistant Secretary of Zurmi Local Government Area (LGA), later being promoted to Acting Secretary. He worked at Kaura Namoda LGA, and was appointed Chairman of the Sokoto LGA from 1986-1987.
He became General Manager, Hotel Management and Tourism Board, Sokoto. In March 1992, he was promoted to Director-General, Careers and Special Services, Governor's Office, Sokoto.
He was elected Deputy Governor of Sokoto State to Governor Attahiru Bafarawa in 1999, on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). He was re-elected Deputy Governor for a second term in April 2003.
He resigned as Deputy Governor of Sokoto State on 15 March 2006. Wamakko ran successfully for Governor of Sokoto State in April 2007 on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform, and assumed office on 29 May 2007.
Following an appeal, his election was annulled in April 2008 on the basis that he had still been a member of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) when he won the PDP nomination. Abdullahi Balarabe Salame was appointed Acting Governor (11 April - 28 May 2008) while a re-run was arranged. Wamakko regained his seat in the May 2008 re-run.
In 2007, Wamakko launched the State Poverty Reduction Agency (SPORA) to run programs such as the youth skills acquisition program.
In September 2009, he pleaded for patience over 2,000 housing units nearing completion, saying they were meant for the people of the state, are limited and cannot even go round. He also stated that the state government would not establish a Micro-finance bank or industries, but would support any individual who wishes to do so.
In October 2009, the Sokoto State Commissioner of Justice said that the state was about to prosecute Wamakko's predecessor Attahiru Bafarawa and five others for alleged misappropriation of N2.919 billion. Bafarawa said the Sokoto commission of inquiry had been set up by Wamakko solely to discredit him.
Party Positions
Policy positions from the All Progressives Congress (APC) party manifesto.
Security & Defense
Enhances compensation, medical care, housing support, scholarships, stipends, and health insurance for military personnel injured in duty and their families.
Governance & Reform
Commits to amending Nigeria’s governance architecture through constitutional review and collaboration with the National Assembly and State Governments to grant States greater autonomy over critical matters like crime prevention, prisons, stamp duties, and taxation.
Economy & Trade
Reforms the Federal Budgetary Methodology to move away from oil revenue dependence and base spending on projected growth, establishing an inflationary ceiling to optimize fiscal policy without causing excessive inflation.
Infrastructure
Launches a National Infrastructure Campaign to modernize national infrastructure by hiring millions of unemployed Nigerians through the fiscal flexibility gained from reforming budgetary methodology.
Agriculture
Will encourage local farmers to form farm cooperatives, enabling them to pool resources for modern farming equipment, fertiliser, and access priority government agricultural assistance programs (extension services), with tax breaks and credits.
Environment & Climate
Will **reduce Nigeria’s gas flaring** by removing it from the top 10 countries with highest flares, aiming to maximize sector benefits while eliminating environmental harm.
Anti-corruption
Curb reliance on imported goods via luxury taxes, higher tariffs, and processing fees while incentivizing local manufacturing with tax credits/rebates.
Enterprise grant support
Provides tax credits, holidays, and reduced interest rate loans for businesses that hire a specified percentage of youth in their workforce and offer on-the-job training.
Energy
Will increase Nigeria’s domestic crude oil production to **2.6 million barrels per day by 2027** and **4 million barrels per day by 2030**, while implementing a Special Enforcement and Monitoring Unit to deter theft, vandalism, and pipeline breaches using drones and aerial surveillance.
Education
Introduces a new management system for federally funded primary and secondary schools via Boards of Education, reserving community representation in decision-making.
Healthcare
Will strengthen primary healthcare infrastructure with incentive schemes, counterpart funding programs, and grassroots preventative care (vaccinations, cancer screening, blood pressure monitoring) in collaboration with state/local governments.
Technology & Digital
Establishment of an advisory committee to review and reform regulatory frameworks for blockchain technology and virtual asset services.
Reliefs and scholarships
Provides **conditional income support** to very poor households, tied to human capital development goals like high-school attendance, healthcare, and nutrition.
In The News
The Nation Newspaper25 Aug 2025
Demystifying the opposition in SokotoBlueprint Newspapers18 Sept 2023
Sokoto: Mirroring Gov. Aliyu’s 9-point AgendaFollow the 2027 race
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