Profiling Gubernatorial Aspirants of Kaduna State: SULEIMAN OTHMAN HUNKUYI
Hunkuyi was born in Hunkuyi headquarters of Kudan LGA in Kaduna State. He bagged his Teachers College Certificate(Grade Two) in Kafanchan Teachers College and NCE in College of Education Kafanchan. He later proceeded to ABU for higher academic programmes. He started as a primary and secondary schools teacher. After a while, he retired from the classroom to the business world.
When IBB started his inconclusive Third Republic, he joined the train under National Republican Convention NRC and was elected the Chairman of Makarfi LGA. During their tenure he was the State ALGON CHAIRMAN. And was part of those that led to the victory of his party NRC at the gubernatorial race that saw to the emergence of Alh.Mohammadu Dabo Lere and James Bawa Magaji as Deputy Governor.
When Abacha sacked the interim contraption of IBB under UAC former chief Shonekon, and started his specie of transition, Hunkuyi, Lawandi Tobacco, Makama Rigachikun, Ahmed Makarfi, and Yakubu Aliyu appeared on the scene under DPN and later crossed over to UNCP. These team under Hunkuyi, floated Makarfi. Unfortunately, the General died and Abdulsalami Abubakar inherited him.
When Gen. Abubakar rolled a short transition of 9 months, Hunkuyi and his team joined PDP, picked the picket for their candidate Makarfi, and won the 1999 elections. As Director General of Makarfi’s campaign, he has appointed Commissioner of Finance. He occupied the office for a while and resigned under reasons many are still speculating borders reneging of a single term tenure by Makarfi.
He challenged Makarfi in 2003 under ANPP. Contested PDP primaries in 2007 and 2011. He lost in all instances. Tongues are still moving discussing why he was belly up in such tangos. One position is clear, he wasn’t lucky to have a level playing field.
Hunkuyi is a political household name with the largest follower ship in the State. He is the only politician in the state with the gift of memory that can call almost 95% of all active politicians in the all the wards of the state by their name. Hunkuyi is the only political horse with the highest dedicated footsoldiers who swims with him in thick or thin. And apart from the 2003 contest that he directly challenged his boss, no other contest was done without him leading the campaign. He lead Namadi’s 2007 campaign and also spent sleepless nights in Sir Kashim Ibrahim House to see to the victory of Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa in 2011.
Hunkuyi also have a gift of words and speech. In the art of talking and persuasion that levels ones resistance, he is A1. Recently, his talkism in Guest of The Week in Liberty radio made the MD to phone in whole Hunkuyi was in the studio and added an additional one hour to the programme. MD’s intervention came as a result of what he saw on street whole driving. He saw dozens of people glued to radios and when he stopped to know which station and programme was on air, he realized it was his station. He introduced himself to one group and they instantly begged him to add more time to the guest in his station. He granted their request.
Many are now speculating that only a man like him can beat PDP in their game. He was part of them and knows their antics. His populist appeal, cult follower ship, charming looks, and mesmerizing words, is making him a candidate to watch out in 2015. Hunkuyi is contesting in APC.
Sir, we wish you the best. And hope the political and electoral systems will be kind to you this time around.
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