Yunusa Tanko
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Yunusa Tanko (born September 28 1971) is a Nigerian politician and social activist.[1][2][3]
Yunusa Tanko | |
|---|---|
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| Occupation | Politician |
| Political party | Action for Democratic Congress |
Tanko served as Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council in 2015. [4] Tanko was a presidential aspirant of the National 2Conscience Party in the 2019 general elections. [2][5] Tanko was appointed Spokesman of the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council that came third in the 2023 electoral polls. [6] In an announcement by Peter Obi on 3rd September 2024, Tanko was chosen as the Interim National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide.[7]
Early life and education
Tanko was born to Mallam Labaran and Aishatu Yunusa from Kano state. He attended Army Children School Ikeja. By 1985, Tanko had completed secondary school education at Ikeja Grammar School.He obtained a Higher National Diploma in Marketing, Post-Graduate Diploma in Co-operative Studies from Kaduna Polytechnic in 1992 and 1994 respectively.Tanko returned for a second Higher National Diploma in Accounting at Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, followed with a Post-Graduate Diploma in Management at Ahmadu Bello University.[8]
Career
Tanko is a member of Association of National Accountants of Nigeria and Institute of Cost and Management Accountants. He worked in various agencies across the private sector from 1993-2002.[3]
His journey into partisan politics began with the Gani Fawehinmi-led National Conscience Party. Even after the demise of the renowned human rights activist, Tanko's umbilical cord to social justice waxxed stronger.[9]
He was Chairman of Inter-party Advisory Council in 2015.[3]
Yunusa contested in the presidential elections in 2019 under the platform of National Conscience Party but lost.[10]
Save Nigeria Group
Tanko played a pivotal role in the Save Nigeria Group that led demonstrations against the Jonathan Administration over unconstitutional tendencies. In an interview, Tanko averred that, “In 2012 when President Goodluck Jonathan suffered a similar fate, I was the field Marshal of the Save Nigeria Group that led the demonstrations with Tunde Bakare, Wole Soyinka and the rest of us. If there were gunshots, I would have been the first to go down. So, we led in the defence of democracy and so also we would lead in this case,” .[11]
National Peace Committee
As the world awaited the outcome of the 2015 elections in Nigeria, many analysts and commentators had feared the worst. In response to this prevailing climate of fear, Tanko was part of a group of Nigerians that came together to form the National Peace Committee to mediate between the frontline presidential aspirants to accept the outcome of the elections.[12]
Obidient Movement
Tanko emerged as a leader within the popular Obidient Movement that metamorphosed into a political opposition to reckon with during the 2023 elections.[13][14] He coordinates the Obidient Movement Worldwide.[4]
Honorary award
In 2010, the Universal Christian Academy affiliated to the University of London bestowed Tanko with an Honorary Doctorate in Leadership and Management.[3]