By Dr. Usman Wada Nas
Wada Nas was a household name in Nigeria when he was alive. He lived a life championing social justice, regardless of who was involved. Wada Nas, a father, grandfather, politician of high repute, and a principled commentator, was fearless, eloquent, and indomitable. That is why some called him Sarkin Yakin Talakawa. To his critics, he was the controversial Wada Nas, Wada Nasty, Wada Noise, Wada Nonsense, or Wada NADECO. In his personal life, he lived modestly and humbly, with his real mission being to contribute, in one way or another, to the entrenchment of social justice and equity in society at all levels.
Wada Nas was born in 1938 in Nasarawa Quarters, Funtua Local Government, Katsina State, to Malam Ibrahim and Amina. He was the youngest of a family of 12. He earned the name Wada from his aunt Asibi during his naming ceremony. The name was derived from *WADATA* in Hausa, meaning abundance. This was because, on the day of his naming ceremony, there were four rams, all for the occasion—one provided by his father, two by the Wazirin Katsina, and one by the Emir of Katsina.
Wada Nas lost his father at the age of two and his mother at the age of six. He was, therefore, raised as an orphan by his elder brother, the late Alhaji Garba Nasarawa.
He began his education with Islamic studies (Makarantar Allo) but later enrolled in elementary school in Funtua (1945–1949), where his name, Wada Nasarawa, was shortened to Wada Nas. He gained admission to Katsina Middle School in 1950, alongside Alhaji Umaru Mutallab, the late Alhaji Bala Abdullahi Funtua, and the late Alhaji Ya’u Nasarawa. However, he was initially denied admission to Katsina Middle School for some reasons and was offered a place at Maru Middle School as a replacement. He rejected the offer because in Maru, students were taught mostly in Hausa, whereas in Katsina, they were taught in English. He decided to wait for a year, after which he was admitted to Katsina Middle School (1952–1954) and later to Katsina Teachers College (1955).
It was at Katsina Teachers College that he developed an interest in politics, which prompted him to write a letter to Malam Aminu Kano, the leader of the Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU), expressing his desire to join his party. Malam Aminu replied, advising him to finish his studies before venturing into politics. Wada Nas kept this letter and was always proud of it.
In 1958, upon graduating from Katsina Teachers College, he was posted to Dutsinma in Katsina State as a school teacher. He joined NEPU and went to Dutsinma as a NEPU member. At that time, it was considered taboo to join NEPU or any other political party apart from the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC), which was seen as being promoted by aristocrats in Northern Nigeria. His NEPU activities were not well-received by the traditional institutions and those in authority. It was believed that from the District Head to the Village Head and Ward Head, all were affiliated with the NPC. The District Head saw him as a threat, which led to various forms of humiliation and harassment. However, Wada Nas was undeterred in fighting for what he believed in: the liberation of the masses from the tyranny of the traditional institutions. The District Head was so uncomfortable with his activities that he requested the Native Authority to transfer him elsewhere. After consultation, the Native Authority decided to transfer him to Kaita, where the District Head happened to be the son of the then Emir of Katsina. This District Head was considered tough and expected to curtail Wada Nas’s NEPU ideology.
Following this, a public announcement was made that anyone found dealing with Wada Nas in any respect would be held accountable. As a result, no one was allowed to associate with him in any way. Traders were barred from selling him goods, he was not allowed to join any public transport or hire a bicycle, and he could not communicate with anyone, including schoolchildren after school hours. Even if he sent a pupil to buy something, it was refused once it was known he was acting on his behalf. Wada Nas was effectively forced into isolation, becoming a prisoner of sorts without being confined to a prison yard. In fact, a prisoner might have had better conditions, as they would have been able to communicate with fellow inmates. This was a grim situation, enforced solely because of his political beliefs.
Over time, some residents of Kaita began to question what crime Wada Nas had committed to warrant such hostility. What was NEPU about? Some came to him at night to ask about NEPU, while others secretly brought him food and essentials or ran errands on his behalf. NEPU gradually gained ground from the underground, and the number of those visiting him increased each night. He continued to educate and enlighten the masses about their rights and how to resist the tyranny and oppression of the ruling class. As a result of his efforts, NEPU was established in Kaita and its surroundings. Due to his contribution, Wada Nas was made the publicity secretary of NEPU in Katsina Province.
Wada Nas was later transferred to Kankara, and as the 1959 general elections approached, the late Malam Aminu Kano, then leader of NEPU, told Wada Nas that the party had decided to field him as its candidate for the Funtua Federal Constituency. However, Wada Nas requested to be fielded in the Kankara/Kogo constituency instead of Funtua, his hometown. Malam Aminu was surprised and asked for an explanation. Wada Nas explained that there was a division between the two district heads in the area, each of whom wanted to be the candidate. The NPC, in an effort to avoid conflict, chose Alhaji Hassan Rafindadi, the then councilor for education, as their candidate. Wada Nas believed that both district heads would remain neutral, which would give him the opportunity to win. His prediction proved accurate, and he won the election, despite attempts by the NPC to prevent the resident electoral officer (a white woman) from announcing the results.
The year 1959 was significant for NEPU, as it was the first time the party had won a seat in the Federal House of Representatives. NEPU had eight representatives, including Malam Aminu Kano from Kano, Yarima Balla from Adamawa Province, and Wada Nas from Kankara/Kogo. Wada Nas served in the House from 1959–1964 and was the youngest member in the Federal House of Representatives during the First Republic.
After the 1966 coup, he returned to Funtua and became involved in farming. In 1968, he became an Account Officer for the Northern State Marketing Board in Zaria.
During the Second Republic (1978), he joined the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), where he became a councilor for health in Funtua Local Government and state party secretary for the old Kaduna State (1981–1983). He was also a member of the Board of University Teaching Hospital in Ibadan (1982–1983). After the 1983 coup, he returned to farming.
During the Third Republic (1991), he joined the National Republican Convention (NRC) and became the Katsina State chairman of the party. He played a key role in the victory of Alhaji Sa’idu Barda, the first executive governor of Katsina State under NRC in 1992. He was also a director on the Board of Universal Bank in Kaduna.
After the 1993 coup, which brought Gen. Sani Abacha to power, Wada Nas was appointed as the Minister of State for Education. This marked the beginning of his relationship with General Abacha, which continued until his death. Gen. Abacha later appointed him as Minister of Special Duties and then as Special Adviser on Special Duties, a position he held until Gen. Abacha’s death in 1998.
In 1998, when the ban on politics was lifted, Wada Nas decided to retire from politics and became a public commentator, critic, and columnist, particularly for the Weekly Trust newspaper.
Wada Nas was a man of extraordinary determination. His name will go down in history as someone deeply concerned with the moral and structural development of the North, dedicating his life to this cause.
Wada Nas died on 3rd January 2005. Today marks 20 years since his departure from this world.
May his gentle soul rest in peace. Amen.
