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Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, FCIArb, FABs, FCIDA, HCH.Hm, MPIS, MHCA (Dan Masanin Gwandu, Zarumman Kabbi) (born 3 April 1957) is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, a former Minister of special Duties and Inter – Government Affairs, former supervising Minister, Ministry of Labour, having served from 2013 – 2015 and 2014 – 2015 respectively and current Chairman of PDP former Ministers’ Forum of Nigeria.

A practicing lawyer and a politician, he contested for kebbi state Governor’s seat three times. He is presently a member of People’s Democratic Party’s Board of Trustees (BOT).

Early Life and Educations
Kabiru was born at the Nasarawa area of Kebbi, Kebbi state to the family of Alhaji Tanimu. Like other children of his age and in accordance with the great custom of the wonderful people of Gwandu Emirate, Kabiru Tanimu was sent to the Qur’anic school, a step which was to later mould his character and prepare him for the numerous challenges of life. In order to equally acquire western education, he was further enrolled into the then Nasarawa Primary School, Birnin Kebbi. Kabiru Turaki exhibited clear signs of a gifted child right from his days in primary school. He distinctively excelled in his academic work. He was very hardworking, obedient, brilliant and more than all these, he was very respectful. As a testimony of the commendable and sterling qualities of the young Kabiru, he was appointed as the Deputy Head Boy and Time Keeper of the school.

Kabiru Tanimu Turaki proceeded to the famous Barewa College, Zaria. Even though the school was full of brilliant students, he proved an exceptional person because he stood out in whatever he did. At Barewa College, Zaria, he was the Deputy House Captian, Suleiman Barau House and President Young Farmers Club of the school.

In furtherance of his education, Kabiru went to the then College of Arts and Science, Sokoto for his I.J.M.B. Again, it was another success story for Tanimu Turaki as he passed all his paepers brilliantly. This earned him admission into one of Nigeria’s most respected Universities, the University of Jos, to read Law. He graduated with honour and proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos where he was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1986.

Personal Life
Kabiru Tanimu Turaki married with childrens. He is a Muslim, Hausa Fulani from Kebbi state.

Kabiru Tanimu Turaki is the first Lawyer from Kebbi state and the entire former North western States of this country to be elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigerain in 2002. Dan Masanin Gwandu, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, is a success story, an inspiration to the youth, a true Nigerian Patriot and an uncompromising believer in the continuous corporate existence of Nigeria as an indivisible nation.

In Kebbi State, he has contributed immeasurable to the betterment of lives of others through the provision of scholarships, employment opportunities and other forms of moral and financial support and encouragement.

He was appointed the Dan Masanin Gwandu by the Emir of Gwandu in February, 2002, in celebration of his achievements, and support for the development of his community. He was also conferred with the Traditional title of Zarumman Kabi by Argungu Emirate in 2012.

Kabiru Tanimu Turaki is not only an astute Lawyer, he is also a politician of no mean repute, respected by many, adored by many and cherished yet many more. The politician in Kabiru was exposed since the politics of the second republic. He has been so active in the politics of Kebbi State and indeed Nigerian. Having greatly endeared himself to his people, it is little surprise that his fame and popularity cutting across all strata engenders the strong faith and confidence his people readily repose in him. Moreover, as a team player with exceptional ability to grasp, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki fits in Mr. President’s dynamic team with a vision towards the attainment of the transformation objectives.

The Distinguished Senior Advocate of Nigeria has been a member of the National Executive Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association, Chairman Nigerian Bar Association Committee on the Judiciary, as well as member of the Governing Board of the Nigerian Judicail Institute. He was also appointed as the Chairman of the Nigerian Copyright Commission by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR in 2012, a position he held until his appointment in 2013 as a Minister in the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, saddled with the responsibility of piloting the affairs of the newly recreated Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter – Governmental Affairs, side by side with this he was also appointed by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, to serve as the Honourable Supervising Minister of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity between 2014 – 2015. As a result of his dedication and team work, he was made the Chairman, White Paper Committee on the Report of the Presidential Committee of Experts on Inter – Professional Relationships in the Public Health Sector. President Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR, also recognized Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN effort and identified him worthy of bringing an end to deadly security challenge in the North – East by appointing him as Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North.

Awards
In recognition of his contribution to the development of Nigeria and humanity, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki has been honoured throughout Nigeria and outside the country. Among his honours and awards are: Kabiru Tanimu Turaki loves reading, trevelling and sports

Professional Career
On graduation from the Nigerian Law School, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki opted to be a private legal practitioner. Unlike other lawyers who would remain permanent at home. Barrister Kabiru Tanimu Turaki went to Kano where he became a senior counsul with Alhaji Tijjani Abdullahi and Company (Solicitors and Advocates) in 1987. Kabiru Tanimu Turaki needed only two years to established himself as a force to be reckoned with in the legal forestry of Kano and its environs. This solid resolution gave birth to K. T. Turaki and Co. In 1989.

As a lawyer, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki has practiced in virtually every court and tribunal in the country. From the Magistrate Court, High Court, the Court of Appeal, Armed Robbery Tribual, Miscellaneous Offences Tribunal, Election Petition Tribunals and even to the Apex Court, the Supreme Court of Nigeria. In all these, he has recorded successes that are certainly beyond the ordinary. He has held professional responsibilities that are too numerous to mentioned. However, it is worthy to note that Kabiru Tanimu Turaki is a retained external solicitor and legal adviser to many organizations throughout Nigeria.

As a lawyer, he has held briefs for clients free of charge. This is a testimony of his love for the down trodden and less privileged. It is a fact that the second Senior Advocate of Nigeria from Kebbi State and the first Advocate of Nigeria from Sokoto State have all passed through his tutelage.

Kabiru Tanimu Turaki is a patriotic Nigerian who is always conscious of the need to develop Nigeria and has not failed to offer his contributions. He was appointed a member of the Kano State Law Reporting Committee in 1999 and a member of the Committee for the review of current legislations in Kano State. The following year, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki served in the committee that reviewed the Northern States Penal Code Law in 1992.

When the Nigeria Bar Association was going through one of its trying moments, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki was one of those called upon to resolve its crisis in 1993.

The Danmasanin Gwandu was a member of the National Political Reform Conference in 2004, as well as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Team Nigerian Trust Fund, a body that was set up to galvanize private sector participation in the sports development and financing in Nigeria.

When the defunct Bank of the North was in murky waters, Barrister Turaki, San, was among the intervention Board that was set up by the Regulatory Agencies (CBN/ NDIC) to restore the Bank that was on the verge of collapse to profitability.

He was at various times a member of the Council of Legal Education, as well as member for the review of Investment Laws in Nigeria. He was also a member of the Ministerial Committee for the Implementation of Reforms in the Nigeria Police Force as well as the Committees set up by the Body of Benchers to review the Laws Regulating Legal Practice in Nigeria.

His contribution to the development of the Law and the Legal Practice in Nigeria led to his appointment as a Notary Public by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, and his elevation of the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2002.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Danmasanin, Gwandu Kabiru Tanimu Turaki is a member of many Professional Bodies, such as:

Political Career
His political career began during school time. As a student, Barrister Kabiru Tanimu Turaki was Chairman of Caretaker Committee of the Students’ Uion of SCAS, Sokoto. While at University of Jos, he was a  member of the Senate of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS). This was in addition to being a member of the Students’ Representative Assembly of the University and President of the Federated Organisation of Sokoto State Students and President of Birnin Kebbi Youth Association (BIKEDA).

When he came out to the larger world, Kabiru did not relent but continued participating in politics. He was Secretary, Youth Wing, of National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in 1981. He joined United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) in 1996 where he stood as Kebbi State Gubernatorial aspirant for the party in 1998, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki joined All Peoples’ Party where he was member of its National Executive Committee and in year 2000 he was elevated to member of its Board of Trustees (BOT).

However, as paradigm of the political arena in the country shifted, Kabiru decamped to United Nigerian Peoples’ Party and contested for the seat of Kebbi State Governor in 2003. After the 2003 elections, he later decamped to PDP the same year and was the Party’s Kebbi State Gubernatorial Aspirant in 2007. Following series of betrayals and numerous controversies, Kabiru decided to Join ACN in 2011. This, however, did not last as he later returned back to PDP the same year. In 2014/15, looking at his tremendous achievements and wealth of experience, Kabiru was appointed Deputy Director General (North) of PDP Presidential Campaign Organization.

Alhaji Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, FCIArb (Danmasanin Gwandu) is presently Member of PDP Board of Trustees (BOT). A position he was appointed in 2015.

Ministerial Appointments
In 2013, the Danmasanin Gwandu was chosen meritoriously by President Goodluck E. Jonathan, GCFR and saddled with the responsibility for rebirthing Ministry of Special Duties and Inter – Governmental Affairs, a position he served assiduously. Looking closely at his immense contribution to the Federal Executive Council, the President added the responsibility of Supervising Ministry of Labour and Productivity in 2014. Kabiru Tanimu Turaki managed the two Ministries till 2015.

Security Challenges
When the need arose to open up dialogue with the Boko Haram insurgents, Danmasanin Gwandu was the National choice of the Federal Government of Nigeria. He was thus appointed as the Chairman of the Presidential Committee for Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North. A Committee which for more than two years engaged the insurgents in fruitful discussion that saw many key leaders of Boko Haram accepting the Dialogue option as a means of resolving the insecurity situation in the North East geo-political zone of Nigeria.

Other Contributions
As part of his remarkable leadership qualities, he was several times chosen, among his colleagues at the Federal Executive Council, to lead Federal Government Delegation to Niger, Senegal, as well as Republic of Belarus.

He was in 2014 chosen by President Goodluck E. Jonathan, to serve as the Deputy Director General of his Campaign, and subsequently appointed as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

Dialogue with Boko Haram Sect
On April 24th 2013, President Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR inaugurated the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North to be chaired by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, a Minister of Special Duties in the Office of the President then and established its modalities in a ceremony at the Presidential Vill. The committee is to open talks with the Islamic insurgency Boko Haram within three months, and work out modalities for an amnesty for the insurgents and compensation for its victims.

The committee immediately began work and was able to engage some Boko Haram larders and already repented members into dialogue.

On June 166th 2013, the committee made first public statement detailing how the federal Government planned to begin the process of disarmament and de-radicalization of Boko Haram members who surrendered their arms as well as ensuring that they are well rehabilitated.

On July 11th 2013, the committee announced ceasefire deal with Boko Haram, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, stated that the ceasefire deal with Boko Haram has the blessings of the sect’s leader, Sheikh Abubakar Shekau. He further gave assurance that all Nigerians would be privy to a ceasefire agreement that would be signed in due course. In his words:

''“We’re still working on the framework where we’ll sign an agreement and we’ll make that public. Wherever and whenever we agree on the time and place, the international and local media as well as all Nigerians will be privy to it”''

On the terms of the ceasefire agreement, he said it was still being worked on and the boarder framework being discussed, after which Nigerians would be duly informed.

On July 13th 2013, barely forty eight hours after Kabiru Tanimu Turaki made this statement, the leader of Boko Haram, Sheikh Abubakar Shekau, punctured the Federal Government’s claim that the Islamist extremists had agreed to a ceasefire deal in the spirit of Ramadan.

On July 22nd 2013, nine days after Shekau released his Video, Human Rights Writes’ Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) called on President Goodluck Jonathan to immediately disband the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki – led Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North. The association claimed that it would amount to grave disservice to the public for the committee to continue to exist after Shekau had Debunked Turaki’s claim that his committee has secured a ceasefire deal with Boko Haram. They further described the exercise as a “huge scam and a scandalous contraption that ought not to have been set up in the first place”. On July 31st 2013, Another Pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere called for the immediate disbandment of the committee, saying recent events had over taken the its usefulness. They also called for an urgent probe of Turaki, who is also the Minister of Special Duties, to ascertain where his hoax of a ceasefire came from. Afenifere expressed concerns over renewed violent campaigns by the radical Islamist sect which claimed scores of lives in separate attacks in Borno and Kano States within 48 – hours.

However, these calls by the two separate organization felt deaf ears as on the same day Afenifere’s call, President Goodluck Jonathan extended the timeline of the committee by two months. Kabiru Tanimu Turaki said the discordant tunes coming from the sect represent the various dynamics within them. There are people who are engaged in it on the basis of ideology or dogma. Some people are doing it on the basis of economic benefits. He added that some people are fifth columnists, who will make sure you don’t succeed in whatever you do.

At the end, after six months, Tanimu Tanimu led Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North submitted its report to President Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR.

Gay Marriage Rejection
In August 2013, Nigerian Government under the Administration of President Goodluck Jonathan,GCFR, rejected gay marriage at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) despite pressure from the international community to legalize it. Being the minister who gave an insight into how the Federal Government took the decision, a form of individuals and organizations who support gay marriage channelled their grievance directly to him. In a statement directly made by him, he said:

''“When we were at the Federal Executive Council and we were discussing the issue of gay marriage, we all said that it is very unnatural. How can we explain this to Nigerians? That a man will go and marry a man and a woman will go and marry a fellow woman. Then we also discussed the aspect of the psychological and mental trauma that the children of such union, whether adopted or not, will have to go through. For example when they go to school and they are asked; who are your parents? And they have to answer that their mummy and daddy are both men or are both female. This does not fit into a highly religious society like ours. There is nowhere in the world where God is worshipped like in Nigeria. Even traditional worshippers also take their religion very seriously, we pray a lot and that is why God has not forsaken Nigeria. We have been through situations that saw many counties went into pieces but whatever happens in Nigeria, like an elephant, Nigeria will only shake its body and move on”.''

These words did not go well with those individuals and groups who support gay marriage. They attributed his words as being too religious denial of human rights.