Suleiman Takuma
Encyclopedia
Alhaji Suleiman Takuma was a Nigeria
n journalist, politician, and businessman. He served as the national secretary of the now defunct National Party of Nigeria
(NPN) and later as a political advisor to President
Shehu Shagari
, the only President from that party. He was also one of the founding members of the United Nigerian Party (UNP), (which later merged with United Nigerian Congress (UNC) to form UNCP United Nigerian Congress Party) for which he served as National administrative secretary. This was during the regime of the late Gen. Sani Abacha.
After this, he withdrew from politics for a time, until becoming one of the founding fathers of the People's Democratic Party
(PDP) and serving in the role of chairman on the Obasanjo '99 campaign committee. He later served the role of board member and head of the procurement committee in the National Fertilizer Company Of Nigeria NAFCON.
He was also appointed chairman of Duke Oil Nigeria limited, which is based in London, but died shortly before he could assume this post.
Muslim
from Bida, Niger State
, Takuma went to elementary school at Mokwa
between 1942 and 1945, before proceeding to a middle school in Bida. He finished his secondary school at Barewa College
.
He started a career in broadcasting at the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission in 1957.
administration's handling of the January 1966 coup suspects while he was working at a radio station. As one of the major NPN secretariat officials during the Second Republic
, he had brushes with the Unity Party of Nigeria
(UPN) and its leader, Obafemi Awolowo
.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n journalist, politician, and businessman. He served as the national secretary of the now defunct National Party of Nigeria
National Party of Nigeria
The National Party of Nigeria was the dominant political party in Nigeria during the Second Republic .-Formation:The party's beginning could be traced to private and sometimes secret meetings among key Northern Nigerian leaders after the proscription of political parties in 1966 by the military...
(NPN) and later as a political advisor to President
President of Nigeria
The President of Nigeria is the Head of State and head of the national executive. Officially styled President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces. The current President of Nigeria is Goodluck Jonathan.-History:On October 1, 1960, Nigeria gained...
Shehu Shagari
Shehu Shagari
Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari, Turakin Sakkwato served as the President of Nigeria's Second Republic , after the handover of power by General Olusegun Obasanjo's military government....
, the only President from that party. He was also one of the founding members of the United Nigerian Party (UNP), (which later merged with United Nigerian Congress (UNC) to form UNCP United Nigerian Congress Party) for which he served as National administrative secretary. This was during the regime of the late Gen. Sani Abacha.
After this, he withdrew from politics for a time, until becoming one of the founding fathers of the People's Democratic Party
People's Democratic Party (Nigeria)
The People's Democratic Party is a political party in Nigeria. Its policies generally lie towards the right wing of the political spectrum. It has won every single Presidential elections since 1999, namely: 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011, and is the dominant party in the Fourth Republic.-History:In...
(PDP) and serving in the role of chairman on the Obasanjo '99 campaign committee. He later served the role of board member and head of the procurement committee in the National Fertilizer Company Of Nigeria NAFCON.
He was also appointed chairman of Duke Oil Nigeria limited, which is based in London, but died shortly before he could assume this post.
Early life
A NupeNupe
The Nupe, traditionally called the Tapa by the neighbouring Yoruba, are an ethnic group located primarily in the Middle Belt and northern Nigeria, and are the dominant group in Niger and an important minority in Kwara State.-History:...
Muslim
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
from Bida, Niger State
Niger State
Niger State is a state in the western part of Nigeria and the largest state in the country. The state capital is Minna, and other major cities are Bida, Kontagora, and Suleja. It was formed in 1976 when the then North-Western State was bifurcated into Niger State and Sokoto State.The state is named...
, Takuma went to elementary school at Mokwa
Mokwa
Mokwa is a Local Government Area in Niger State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Mokwa on the A1 highway in the west of the area....
between 1942 and 1945, before proceeding to a middle school in Bida. He finished his secondary school at Barewa College
Barewa College
Barewa College is a college in Zaria, Kaduna State, northern Nigeria. Founded in 1922 by British Governor General Hugh Clifford, it was originally known as "Katsina College." It switched its name to "Kaduna College" in 1938 and then "Government College, Zaria" in 1949 before settling on "Barewa...
.
He started a career in broadcasting at the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission in 1957.
Political career
Takuma first gained notoriety for criticizing the Aguiyi-IronsiJohnson Aguiyi-Ironsi
Major General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi was a Nigerian soldier. He served as the Head of State of Nigeria from January 16, 1966 until he was overthrown and killed on July 29, 1966 by a group of northern army officers who revolted against the government.- Early life :Thomas Umunnakwe...
administration's handling of the January 1966 coup suspects while he was working at a radio station. As one of the major NPN secretariat officials during the Second Republic
Nigerian Second Republic
The Second Republic was the republican government of Nigeria between 1979 and 1983 governed by the second republican constitution.- Founding :...
, he had brushes with the Unity Party of Nigeria
Unity Party of Nigeria
The Unity Party of Nigeria was a Nigerian political party that was dominant in western Nigeria during the second republic. The party revolved around the political leadership of Obafemi Awolowo, a sometimes polemical but effective administrator. However, the party's main difference with its...
(UPN) and its leader, Obafemi Awolowo
Obafemi Awolowo
Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo was a Nigerian politician, trade unionist, author and statesman. A Yoruba and native of Ikenne in Ogun State of Nigeria, he started his career as a regional political leader like most of his pre-independence contemporaries and was responsible for much of the progressive...
.