Abdullahi Aliyu Sumaila

Abdullahi Aliyu Sumaila (23 March 1946 – 11 January 2003) was a Nigerian politician and administrator. One of the first administrators to inherit the post first republican administrative structure instituted by the military, he served the Local Education Authority, Kano State Government and the Federal Government of Nigeria from 1967 to 2003 in various positions.^[1]

Abdullahi Aliyu Sumaila
3rd Secretary to the Executive Council Of Kano
In office 11 June 1977 – 1 October 1981
Preceded by	Abdu Sambo
Succeeded by	Muhammad Sagagi
1st Principal secretary to the Executive Governor of Kano
In office 1 October 1978 – 1 October 1981
Preceded by	Office Established
Succeeded by	Abdullahi Abubakar
2nd Secretary, People's Redemption Party
In office 1 April 1981 – 31 December 1983
Personal details
Born	(1946-03-23)23 March 1946 Sumaila, Sumaila, Kano State, Nigeria
Died	11 January 2003(2003-01-11) (aged 56) Kano
Political party	People's Democratic Party (Nigeria)
Alma mater	Ahmadu Bello University
Occupation	Politician

Background

He was born at Kofar Kudu, Sumaila, his father called Malam Aliyu - Talle Sumaila on the paternal side descended from the Madinawan Kano Clan and maternally descended from the Fulani of Chango and Jobawa Fulani Clan, while his mother called Amina Idris Ali was from Kofar Yamma Sumaila, after earning a Grade II teacher's certificate in 1967 he attended Advanced Teachers College, Kano, Institute of Education ABU Zaria from 1968 to 1970 and Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Department of Government (Political Science) from 1970 to 1974, where he earned a BSc social science degree in government (political science), he underwent his postgraduate studies at the Department of Political Science in the same university from 1976 to 1977.^[2]

Career

The positions he held included deputy headmaster Tsangaya Primary School, assistant secretary cabinet office, assistant secretary Kano State Ministry of Home Affairs and Information, secretary to the Executive Council of Kano State, principal secretary to the governor, permanent secretary Ministry of Works and Transport, permanent secretary Civil Service Commission, secretary general People's Redemption Party, vice chairman III Social Democratic Party (Nigeria), deputy chairman United Nigeria Congress Party Interim Committee Kano State, chairman Kano State Hockey Association, chairman Aurum Nigeria Limited, director Precise Oil Resources Nigeria Limited, director Katday Modern Furnitures Nigeria Limited, director Dayekh Tiles Nigeria Limited, director Hayder Trading and Manufacturing Nigeria Limited, director United Confectionery Nigeria Limited, director Dayekh Ali and Sons Nigeria Limited, general manager and board director Arewa Steel Works, chairman Hadejia Jama'are River Basin Development Authority and chairman Kano State Television Corporation.^[3][4] Many of his administrative reforms were integrated into the bureaucracy of the Nigerian federation.^{[5][6][7][8][9]}

Student activism

He was active in student politics and held the position of secretary general Muslim Students Society of Nigeria, Advanced Teachers College Kano, treasurer Third World Association Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and national secretary general Kano State Students Association.^[10]

Political party campaigns

In 1964 he campaigned for Musa Said Abubakar the Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU) Federal Parliamentary candidate for Sumaila Constituency who contested against Alhaji Inuwa Wada of the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC), in the 1983 elections he was the campaign manager of Abubakar Rimi the Nigeria Peoples Party (NPP) candidate for the post of the Governor of Kano State, he was the political secretary of Alhaji Ahmadu Rufa'i when he contested for the post of the Governor of Kano State under the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 1991, he was also the director of campaign North West of Shehu Musa Yar'adua in the 1992 SDP Presidential Primaries and in 1997 a member of the National Contact and Moblization Committee of the United National Congress Party (UNCP). In 1998 he was a committee member of the Kano State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Gubnetorial and State House of Assembly Primary Elections Panel, he was a member of the Elders Committee of the PDP Kano State and served as the Director General of Hon Nura Mohammed Dankadai Campaign in the 2002 PDP Kano South Senatorial District Primary Election.^[11][12]

Community service

He served as member Blood Transfusion Services, secretary Kano State Government General Murtala Muhammed Memorial Committee, treasurer Dr Bala Mohammed Memorial Committee, chairman Kano State Government Committee Against Anti-Apartheid, financial secretary Wudil Teachers College Old Students Association, chairman Finance Committee Kano State Foundation Wudil Local Government Chapter, member Steering Committee Kano State Foundation Wudil Local Government Chapter, patron Kano State Chapter National Youth Council of Nigeria, member Kano State Government Sports Revival Committee, member Kano State Government Nigerian Constitution Co-ordinating Committee, member Kano State Government Transition Main Committee.^[13][14][15]

Family

He was married to Mrs Saude Abdullahi Aliyu (nee Sarkin Fulani Abdullahi-Maikano Mahmoud Dawaki Bello Sarkin Wudil) and had seven children.^[16]