…Forum hails former Kaduna governor’s four-decade journey through education, banking, governance and politics

At 70, former Kaduna State Governor, Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, is being celebrated not merely for the political offices he has occupied, but for a public career that has taken him from the classroom to the highest levels of state and national politics.

Chairman, Northern Senators Forum, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’adua in a birthday tribute issued in Abuja on Saturday, described Makarfi as a teacher, banker, governor, senator, party leader and statesman whose career, it said, reflected a sustained commitment to public service.

The forum, which marked Makarfi’s 70th birthday, titled its tribute “From Classroom Teacher to Statesman,” tracing the former governor’s journey through several defining stages of Nigeria’s public life.

According to the senators, Makarfi’s public service began in the classroom, where he taught and later served as a part-time lecturer in the Department of Accounting at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, between 1987 and 1993.

From academia, he moved into the banking sector, rising to become an Assistant General Manager at Nigeria Universal Bank before returning to public administration as Commissioner of Finance in Kaduna State.

His political career took a decisive turn in 1999 when he was elected governor of Kaduna State.

He served two terms, from 1999 to 2007, with the Northern Senators Forum describing the period as one in which he provided steady leadership during a difficult phase in the state’s political and social development.

The forum said his administration established foundations in governance, peace-building and development that continued to influence the state beyond his tenure.

After leaving the Kaduna Government House, Makarfi moved to the National Assembly, where he represented Kaduna North Senatorial District from 2007 to 2015.

The forum said the former governor brought to the Senate the same temperament that had characterised his earlier public responsibilities.

“In the red chamber, you brought the same calm intellect, depth, and commitment to nation-building that defined your years as governor,” the senators said.

His political journey later placed him at the centre of one of the most turbulent periods in the Peoples Democratic Party.

As National Chairman of the PDP, Makarfi was credited by the forum with helping to stabilise the party and reconcile competing interests during a period of internal crisis.

“As National Chairman, you held the centre. You stabilized, you reconciled, and you reminded us that politics must be about people, about institutions, and about country — not just power,” the statement said.

For the Northern Senators Forum, however, Makarfi’s significance at 70 extends beyond the positions he has occupied.

The forum described him as a “detribalised Nigerian”, saying his influence and reputation had extended beyond his immediate political base in Kaduna.

“At 70, you are rightly honoured as a detribalised Nigerian. Your name and your work are celebrated not only in Makarfi, not only in Kaduna, but across every corner of our country,” it said.

The senators said Makarfi’s career had been defined by his movement across institutions rather than attachment to a single office — from teaching and banking to state administration, legislation and political leadership.

They argued that each phase had provided another opportunity for him to contribute to public life.

As he begins his eighth decade, the forum urged Makarfi to remain available to guide a younger generation of political leaders.

“Nigeria still needs your voice — calm in crisis, firm in principle, and generous in counsel,” it said.

The senators prayed for continued wisdom, strength and good health for the former governor, describing his 70th year as the beginning of another phase of national service.

The forum concluded by celebrating Makarfi’s seven decades of life and service and wishing him what it described as an even more impactful new decade.