EDITORIAL

 

On Sunday March 11, 2018 the people of Nasarawa State buried the remains of their former Governor, Aliyu Akwe Doma in Doma amid tears from his supporters and well wishers who thronged Doma town to pay their last respects to him. Aliyu Akwe Doma died last Tuesday, March 6, in a Tel-Aviv hospital after a protracted illness. Left to mourn him were his three wives, many children and grand children.

Aliyu Akwe Doma became governor of Nasarawa state in May, 2007, under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)

He was born on September 1, 1942 in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State to parents from the Alago ethnic group.

Akwe Doma completed his primary education in Doma Junior Primary School and Lafia Senior Primary School respectively between 1951 and 1957. He proceeded to Government Secondary School, Katsina Ala and the Higher Teachers’ Training College, Gombe, where he obtained the Grade II teachers certificate in 1963. He attended the University of Ibadan (1964–1966), British Drama League, London, England (1968) and the World Tourism Organization Centre for Advanced Tourism Studies Turin Italy (1973). He attended Ahmadu Bello University Zaria in 1976 and Amdrose Alli University Ekpoma in 2002 where he obtained a Master’s in Public Administration.

Aliyu Akwe Doma worked in the old Plateau State civil service, where he rose to become Permanent Secretary in several ministries between 1976 and 1983. He then became Deputy Governor of old Plateau State. He was a member of the Presidential Joint National Consultative and Advisory Committee of Traditional Rulers and Leaders of Thought (1995–1998) and a member of the National Committee on the future of Higher Education in Nigeria (1996–1998). He was appointed a member of the Technical Committee, Presidential Council on Tourism in 2004. He held private sector positions as Chairman of the Oriya Group of Companies in 1984, Chairman of Integrated Tourism Consultants in 2003 and as a representative of Steyr Nigeria.

Aliyu Doma ran successfully for election as governor of Nasarawa state in April 2007 on the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) platform and was sworn into office on 29th May, 2007.

He ran for a second term in office in April 2011, but lost to incumbent Umaru Tanko Al-makura the candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC)

Late Aliyu Akwe Doma would be fondly remembered by the people of Nasarawa state for the novel but laudable programme he initiated tagged “Badakoshi”.

May his gentle soul rest in peace.