Elder Dr. Friday Sani Paul “Makama” (born January 1st, 1970) is a Nigerian born classical politician, though leader, diplomat, indefatigable grassroots advocate, author, businessman, generous and a high flying philanthropist. He is a great and noble patriots who takes pride in Igala history, cultural heritage and refused to allow their identity to be redefined, watered down, eradicated and decimated on the alter of irredentist politics, ruling class hegemony, murutus impetus and what have you.
Elder Hon Makama is, first , a member of Igala Party by birth and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by inclination. He is the first Kogi indigene and ebullient Igala youth to be appointed as an International Human Right Commission Advisor, which is more of a call to duty based on his antecedent than a job.
Honourable Friday Sani Makama, in 1998, under the platform of Igala Youth Forum, spearheaded the agitation for the freedom of economic trees in Igala Kingdom beginning from Odolu Community. This is with a view to restore, defend and preserve the very essence of who we are as a people. In fact it is an efforts geared towards breaking the shackles of bondage and chains of mental slavery. Elder Friday Sani Paul believes strongly we all possess the right to equal political and legal treatment.
We must, however, not fail to ask of what real value are political and legal equality to a man who has no food to eat, no clothes to wear, no roof to shelter him, no chance to earn a livelihood? Hence in an unjust society silence is a crime. This singular believe facilitated the call to march for freedom with songs of liberty from early stage of Elder Makama’s life. This singular act yielded avalanches of political appointments to Elder Friday Sani Makama since 1990 till date; this is not by power or might but by accomplishing the wills and desires of the people. No wonder he is accorded great respect with appellations like Gallant Democrat, Most Valued Igala Youth, “Ajebu’eneje” (the one who eats, cut and share equally with someone else without discriminatory instinct).
A graduate of Nigeria Institute of Journalism (NIJ) Abuja and University of Abuja respectively, Elder Friday Sani Makama initiated Kogi Youth Empowerment & Skill Acquisition Centre, Lokoja in his capacity as Special Advicer (SA) to Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, the then Governor of Kogi State. He emerged winner of a keenly contested election as member Kogi State House of Assembly representing Igalamela/Odolu Constituency, Lokoja between (2011-2015, 2015 till date).
Irrespective of intervening issues and frivolous suspension meted out to him over two years without any stipend from government coffers: He constructed blocks of classroom for Ojokuta Primary School at Ajaka, headquarters of Igalamela/Odolu LG in 2010. In the same year, he established Ibro Ultra Modern Nursery and Primary School Odolu, a free education initiative fully funded by Honourable Friday. Honourable Friday Sani Makama constructed Odolu Central Market in 2012 commissioned by His Excellency Captain Idiris Wada, former Governor of Kogi State. He reconstructed Ajaka Central Market in 2013 and commissioned by her Excellency Hajia Halima Ibro. He built Health Center at Egbolo and recruited five Nurses under his pay roll. Elder Friday Makama constructed WAEC HALL for Odolu District Secondary School, paid WAEC fees for students in Odolu District, tuition fees for under-graduates every new session or academic year. He built multipurpose hall with facilities for skills acquisition at Odolu in 2014, established rice milling centre at Ogbogbo, provided motorized borehole for Uwowo axis, Ibochi Community in Ajaka area and Okenya situated around Federal Polytechnic Idah (FPI). He constructed Akpanya Modern Central Market in 2015.
In 2016, he rehabilitated Ajaka Central Borehole with monthly donation of two drums of diesel to power the plant for constant pumping and supply of free water. He embark on annual rehabilitation of rural roads across the political axis of the local government epete – uwowo – ogbogbo road, aya-ibochi – Ajaka road and so forth. This is not in the absence of humanitarian services like – free distribution of Makama Farm Produce to the less privilege during annual harvest season across communities – free distribution of Rams and bags of rice to both Muslim and Christian faith at ever Sallah and Christmas Festivity and so on.
Early Life and Education
Elder Friday Sani Paul “Makama” was born at Odolu in Igalamela/Odolu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria, West Africa on the 1st of January, 1970. He is the son of Pa. Ademu Peter Sani and Mrs Laruba Anyigba. He started his educational career at Qua Iboe Primary School Odolu between 1975 to 1981. Elder Dr. Friday Sani later enrolled in a Vocational Trade between 1975-1985 as an apprentice in a motorcycle repairs workshop (roadside mechanic). However, the quests to obtain sound education pushed Elder Friday Sani Makama to, and gained admission at Odolu Community Secondary School between 1985-1991 where he bagged the West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE) with success. Afterwards, he proceeded to the prestigious Kogi State University, Anyigba and obtained Diploma in Mass Communication. A man on foot cannot compete with a man on an horse. No doubt, vision gives Elder Friday the horse to ride on his studies at the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ) where he bagged Higher Diploma in Journalism. In the same vain, he is a Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) Certificate holder from Institute of Journalism (IIJ) Kaduna Study Centre, Kaduna State Nigeria. He is a Christian and happily married with children.
… to be continued
– Stephen Inah Eyiene
inaheyienes@gmail.com
