Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, the National Chairman of Nigeria's ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has publicly described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a master political strategist and a key mentor in his own career.
A Title and Tribute in Kanke
Yilwatda made the remarks on Saturday, December 28, 2025, shortly after he was honoured with a traditional chieftaincy title in Plateau State. The ceremony took place in the Kanke Local Government Area, where he was conferred with the title "Kaeh-rit", which translates to "the good seed of Ampang East".
Addressing the gathering, the APC chairman did not hold back in his admiration for the nation's leader. "I'm learning from the best leader, Asiwaju Tinubu," Yilwatda stated. He elaborated by calling the President "one of the best politicians you can learn from" and credited his own political growth to Tinubu's guidance.
Learning from the 'Very Best'
Yilwatda revealed a personal dimension to their relationship, noting that Tinubu had taken him under his wing. "Since adopting me as his son, I've learned so much from him," he said. The APC chairman framed his potential success as a direct result of this tutelage, asserting, "If you see me succeeding, it's because I'm learning from the very best politician ever produced in Nigeria."
He expressed a clear ambition to emulate the President's achievements, vowing to "work towards achieving what he has done, also, being one of the best politicians in Nigeria."
Donation, Defection, and Unified Governance
Aligning his actions with the President's national agenda, Yilwatda used the occasion to demonstrate support for food security. He donated the sum of ten million naira (₦10,000,000), seedlings, and other critical farm inputs to local farmers in Kanke LGA. He explicitly linked this gesture to President Tinubu's efforts to boost agricultural production and reduce poverty across the country.
The event also provided a platform for Yilwatda to comment on the recent political shift in the state, where Governor Caleb Mutfwang defected to the APC. The national chairman welcomed the move, emphasizing the party's inclusive nature. "The person that comes into the APC today has equal rights with someone who has been there for a thousand years," he declared.
He argued that a unified party and government structure in Plateau would lead to greater benefits for its people. "The essence of this is that the national budget and local government structures will align so that all our systems, from the national level down to the grassroots, are structured for the benefit of the people of Plateau," Yilwatda explained.
This marks the second traditional honour for Professor Yilwatda in a short span. It follows a recent recognition bestowed upon him by the Tiv Nation in Benue State for his humanitarian work.
