THE LAST MAN STANDING, A MORNING WITH THE CENTENARIAN SAGE, ALHAJI BABA TANKO YAKASAI OFR

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THE LAST MAN STANDING, A MORNING WITH THE CENTENARIAN SAGE, ALHAJI BABA TANKO YAKASAI OFR


By Fuseh Markus








​At 100 years old, Baba Tanko Yakasai OFR remains a living bridge between Nigeria foundational past and its turbulent present.


When I walked into his home at 10:00 AM earlier this morning, I greeted Baba as "The Last Man Standing"—a title that drew a thunderous, youthful laugh from the patriarch. 


Baba was curious how I’d known that was President Bola Ahmed Tinubu personal moniker for him, a testament to the fact that even a century into his journey, Baba remains at the epicenter of national relevance.


Baba home is more than a residence; it is a sanctuary of history where the air is thick with the wisdom of a man who has seen every season of Nigeria soul.


​What is most striking about Baba is not just his longevity, but the uncanny sharpness of a mind that refuses to dull. During my visit this morning, he didn't just reminisce; he acted. With a memory that puts men half his age to shame, he recalled our past discussions with precision and immediately began opening doors, connecting me with key figures in the Presidency and his son, Salihu Tanko Yakasai, to support my mission.


To witness a centenarian navigate complex social and political networks with such ease is to witness a masterclass in why some men are truly "born into greatness."


At his age, Baba  is a man who still reads, still remembers, and still commands the respect of the nation highest offices from the comfort of his parlor.


​My mission is simple: to celebrate this giant while he is still here to hear the applause. By documenting his life impact through a mini-documentary and personal profile, I hope to capture the essence of the "Humble Life" he famously wrote about in his autobiography.


Celebrating a man like Baba Yakasai isn't just about honoring the past; it’s about preserving a blueprint of integrity and mental fortitude for the future.


As I sat there with him in his parlour, quoting his own words back to him while his wife (Hajiya Maryam) looked on with warmth, I realized that we don't just need to document history—we need to live in the light of those who made it.


©️ THE MAYOR, JOHNFUSEH 🫶🌷✍️✍️🫡

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