By Rayyanu Bala
In one of my previous articles, titled “Succession Story About to Repeat Itself in 2027 in Nasarawa,” published in Nasarawa Eye online, I drew the attention of the people of Nasarawa State to the political parallels between the succession from Senator Abdullahi Adamu to the late Governor Aliyu Akwe Doma in 2007 and the succession that may be unfolding between Governor Abdullahi Sule and Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu in 2027.
In that article, I narrated a story that carries a powerful lesson for everyone: patience, perseverance, and the ability to wait for one’s time can open doors that ambition alone cannot.
Let me revisit the key points of that article to help us fully understand the message behind the title of this piece: A Study in Political Patience: Late Akwe Doma and Senator Wadada
In the years leading up to the 1999 governorship election, the late Aliyu Akwe Doma and Senator Abdullahi Adamu were on opposite sides of the political contest in Nasarawa State. Doma had previously contested against Adamu but did not emerge victorious. Rather than give up on his political ambition or allow disappointment to define his future, he remained patient and continued to play his part in the political process.
At the end of Adamu’s eight-year tenure as governor, the political equation changed. Adamu eventually backed Aliyu Akwe Doma as his successor, and the people of Nasarawa State elected Doma governor in 2007.
That chapter of Nasarawa’s political history offers an important lesson: losing an election does not necessarily mean losing the future. A setback can be a temporary interruption rather than the end of a political journey.
Fast-forward to 2019, and we find another story with striking similarities.
Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu contested against Governor Abdullahi Sule during the APC governorship primary election but did not emerge as the party’s candidate. Like the late Aliyu Akwe Doma before him, Wadada had a choice to make: abandon his ambition, become bitter about the outcome, or remain patient and continue working towards his political future.
Now, as Governor Abdullahi Sule approaches the end of his constitutionally permitted eight-year tenure, Senator Wadada has emerged as a potential successor with the governor’s backing. He is now the APC’s candidate.
In my previous article, I explained that the similarities between the experiences of the late Aliyu Akwe Doma and Ahmed Wadada Aliyu are compelling. Both men lost political contests but remained relevant in the political equation and later received the backing of an outgoing governor as his preferred successor.
The circumstances surrounding the 2007 election bear striking similarities to those of 2027, and these parallels are worth examining, particularly because they highlight the possible rewards of patience and political perseverance.
In my opinion, Senator Abdullahi Adamu and Governor Abdullahi Sule deserve commendation for the roles they have played in these parallel succession stories.
The experiences of both Aliyu Akwe Doma and Ahmed Wadada demonstrate that Governorship is not only about winning elections; it is also about managing relationships, recognising loyalty and patience, and deciding who might carry the baton when one’s time in office comes to an end.
The story of Senator Abdullahi Adamu with late Aliyu Akwe Doma, Governor Abdullahi Sule with Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu present political journey that offer a similar lesson.
Of course, there is something admirable about a politician who can withstand disappointment without abandoning his aspirations. Politics is often described as a game of numbers, alliances, and interests, but it is also a test of character. Those who understand that political opportunities may come at different times are better positioned to take advantage of them when they eventually arise.
This is why the stories of Aliyu Akwe Doma and Senator Ahmed Wadada deserve attention. They remind us that losing today does not necessarily mean losing forever. A failed attempt can become a stepping stone to a greater opportunity, provided one remains focused, patient, and committed to the journey.
The emergence of Wadada as candidate of APC has added another chapter to this fascinating succession story.
For now, however, the lesson is about the value of patience in a society where many people want immediate results. It is about the wisdom of understanding that not every opportunity must be seized today and that not every disappointment should lead to despair.
There is a popular Hausa proverb that captures this lesson beautifully: “Mai haƙuri yakan dafa dutse har ya sha romon.” In essence, it teaches that patience and perseverance can make even the seemingly impossible possible, to the point of cooking a stone and enjoying its broth.
As we count down to the 2027 governorship election, Nasarawa State may once again witness a succession story reminiscent of its 2007 political history.
The journeys of the late Aliyu Akwe Doma and Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu provide a timely reminder that, in politics as in life, patience can be a powerful virtue.
The person who waits may eventually get the opportunity. After all, a political race is not always won by the person who arrives first, but by the person who knows how to wait for the right moment.
