Former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, has extended heartfelt congratulations to elder statesman Alhaji Tanko Yakasai as he marks his 100th birthday on December 7, 2025. Adebayo described the milestone as a rare and majestic achievement, framing Yakasai's life as intrinsically linked to Nigeria's own political story.
A Century Interwoven with Nigeria's Journey
In a detailed congratulatory message, Adebayo stated that celebrating Yakasai is, in essence, celebrating Nigeria itself. He emphasized that the centenarian's life spans a critical century of the nation's collective hopes, struggles, and aspirations.
"Your 100 years summon not just admiration but reverence," Adebayo said. "Your presence in our national life reminds us of the long road we have travelled, the storms we have weathered, and the promises we must still labour to fulfill." He noted that Yakasai's personal narrative is so deeply etched into the nation's conscience that to speak of him is to speak of Nigeria's soul.
From NEPU Activism to Unbroken Conviction
Adebayo traced Yakasai's journey back to 1925, a period of colonial rule when an independent Nigeria was a distant dream. He hailed Yakasai's early emergence as a determined spirit, championing freedom and justice for all.
The tribute highlighted Yakasai's foundational activism in the Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU) under Mallam Aminu Kano, and his pivotal roles in shaping the First and Second Republics. Adebayo praised the elder statesman's unsullied and unbroken conviction that Nigeria must work for all its people.
"At 100, your intellect retains the sharpness of a scholar, the discipline of a statesman and the moral clarity of a patriot," Adebayo remarked, noting that Yakasai has never retired from the obligation of thinking about Nigeria's progress.
A Living Archive and Fearless Voice
Prince Adebayo described Alhaji Tanko Yakasai as a living archive and a moral anchor for the nation. He stressed that Yakasai's wisdom comes from frontline experience, not speculation, having lived through colonialism, independence, coups, and democratic rebirth.
"You are not the kind of elder statesman who retreats into the comfort of age to offer safe or vague commentary," Adebayo stated. "You speak truth even when truth is costly." He acknowledged that this steadfastness led to arrests, detentions, and criticism, yet Yakasai remained unbroken, serving as a beacon for a generation in need of a moral compass.
While recognizing Yakasai as a cultural treasure to Kano and the Northern region, Adebayo elevated him to a national symbol. He commended Yakasai's lifelong championing of Nigeria's diversity as a divine blessing and his cross-ethnic friendships and alliances.
In his closing prayers, Adebayo thanked Almighty Allah for preserving Yakasai and wished him peace and joy. He expressed hope that Nigeria would one day fully embody the ideals of justice, unity, and accountable leadership that Yakasai defended throughout his century of life.
"Your life is a national treasure, a guiding light, a moral compass and a historical archive wrapped in human form," Adebayo concluded. "Happy 100th birthday, Alhaji! Nigeria salutes you."
