By Editor -in-Chief
People from all facets of life have continued to troop into the Wammakko residence in Asokoro, Abuja, to register their solidarity and loyalty. From traditional rulers to market women, youth leaders to party executives, the house has become a daily convergence point for political engagements.
What draws them is not just his status as a former Governor of Sokoto State and serving Senator, but his deliberate open door policy. At Wammakko’s residence, access is not restricted by title, wealth, or political profile.
Visitors say his tradition is simple: get himself closer to you, no matter your level. Whether you are a ward chairman from Illela or a federal lawmaker from Lagos, you are received with the same warmth and attention.
Journalists who cover Sokoto and North-West politics have also enjoyed that same cordial relationship. Reporters say Senator Wammakko takes calls, grants interviews, and explains issues without the usual barriers that keep politicians distant from the press.
The open door policy has become his political brand. In a region where access to power brokers is often gated, Wammakko’s house operates like a town hall. Grievances are heard, requests are documented, and people leave feeling acknowledged.
That accessibility has translated into political advantage. Analysts say he has “already taken over the grassroots” in Sokoto politics. Ward and local government structures remain loyal because they feel directly connected to him, not through intermediaries.
MHis influence now extends beyond Sokoto. With the same approach, he has positioned himself as a key force in North-West politics. Stakeholders from Katsina, Zamfara, Kebbi, Kaduna, and Jigawa regularly seek audience, seeing him as a bridge to federal decision-making.
The Senator’s camp also enjoys the loyalty of political heavyweights. Former Governor Adamu Aliero of Kebbi and Abdulaziz Yari, former Governor of Zamfara and ex-Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, are counted among his loyalists and allies in the region.
With Aliero and Yari in his orbit, Wammakko’s political network now covers three former governors with deep structures in Kebbi, Zamfara, and Sokoto. That alliance gives him unusual leverage in shaping North-West APC strategy and candidate selection.
Political observers note that those who choose to fight him in Sokoto politics find it difficult to compete. The combination of grassroots control, elite alliances, and daily public access makes his structure hard to dislodge.
Supporters say the open door tradition is not new. Even as governor, he maintained a similar approach, insisting that leaders must remain accessible to the people they serve. They argue that this is why his political family has remained intact over the years.
Critics, however, point to one area they wish he would reconsider. “One area I would hit our father on this that Wammakko doesn’t like criticism and political attacks,” a close associate said.
They argue that while accessibility is a strength, tolerance for dissent would strengthen internal democracy.
For now, the Senator appears unconcerned. His focus remains on consolidating the North-West base ahead of 2027. With his door open and his network expanding, he continues to host stakeholders daily at his Asokoro residence.
In North-West politics, access is power. And with Wammakko’s door policy, power has a human face. Whether allies, adversaries, or ordinary citizens, they know where to find him: a house in Asokoro where no one is considered too small to be heard.
MAHMOUD MUHAMMAD is former Regional Editor Leadership Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara State now Publisher of the Northern Star online newspapers 07060766191
About The Author
