Tribute to Sardauna of Sokoto
By Usman G Santuraki
usbaturaki@yahoo.com
A long period of years has passed by since the brutal killing of the one and only Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir. Ahmadu Bello in the hands of some sectional army officers led by the dreaded Major Chukwuma Nzeagwu popularly known as “Major Chukwuma Kaduna” in 1966 in Kaduna, the capital city of Northern Nigeria.
Sir Ahmadu Bello, was really the backbone of whatever development, that took place in the entire Northern Nigeria and it has become a thing of joy for me to write a special tribute on this icon, for what he was able to do for the North and its people during his sojourn on this earth which today stands the test of time and even become a reference point when discussing issues and the developments that took place in Northern Nigeria.
Sir Ahmadu Bello was a leader,who lived his life fully in the service of Northern Nigerians and other Nigerians alike. His only passion was to develop and modernize Northern Nigeria in particular and Nigeria in general. He worked tirelessly towards that and nothing more than that.
Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, as the first and the last premier of the Northern Region probably exerted more influence on the direction of the Nigerian nation-state in his days than any other Nigerian. Sir Ahmadu Bello in real and practical terms, was the most powerful Nigerian fron 1960 to1966. In a way, the story of this great country cannot be complete without mentioning his name as one of the founding fathers of Nigeria.
Sir Ahmadu Bello, was the apostle of Northern unity as he made a very memorable statement to that effect on the achievement of self-government that it has become a reference point to all Northerners irrespective of tribe or religion when he said: ”I would like to say a special word of encouragement to our Northern young men and women who are students overseas. They are not with us today as they are far away from their homes gaining the knowledge which will fit them to work for the development of our country. They are always very much in my thoughts. On this memorable day, commemorating self-government, I send them a message of goodwill and remind them that they will have a most important part to play in this region when they return having successfully completed their studies and training.”
To Sir Ahmadu Bello, the community of the North was a trans-ethnic community and “Northerner” transcended tribal, religious and even class affiliation. Thus the Sardauna saw the contemporary history of the North merging into its historical past to weave a synthesis that emerges as one nation with one destiny. He knew that Northerners had the capacity, the capability and the urge to develop their society and they must so develop it.
At independence and for some time thereafter, the
Northern society and in particular the economy was very much underdeveloped and Sir Ahmadu Bello was acutely aware of this state of affairs. Towards alleviating this problem and as a key strategy, Sardauna took it upon himself to set up relevant industries across the region with the expectation that a new class of merchants, industrialists and entrepreneurs would emerge. This really paid off as a lot of industries were open up in the Northern Region that even shaped up the revenue base of the region and a bank was set up to primarily give credit facilities to businessmen to boost the commercial activities in the region.
Another main issue that the late Sardauna of Sokoto had done to the North and of which the North till date remains ever grateful was the Northernisation policy that he embarked upon to see that Northern public officers replaced the non-Northern public officers in the civil service of the Northern Region. The Northernisation policy was a real weapon of developing a Northern public service that is made up largely of Northerners irrespective of the area they may come from.
Critics of this Northernisation policy fail to appreciate the fact that it was in the overall interest of national development and integration for the North and the Northerner to really catch up with the South and Southerner.
Sir Ahmadu Bello instilled in the Northerners a sense of respect to the constituted authority and he implicitly displayed this during the official of Her Majesty the Queen when he said: ”We, the people of the Northern Region desire to greet Your Majesty with the expression of our unfailing allegiance to the throne.”
Therefore, whenever and wherever the history of the Northern Nigeria is going to be written or rather discussed, the name Ahmadu Bello must have a place and there is nothing too much to be said on this real gem and icon of the progress of the North - now broken into19 states.
Sarduana Ahmadu would continue to be remembered as a reference point of selfless service, incorruptible public servant who passed to the world beyond without having anything to leave behind for his immediate family.
The leaders of the North need to borrow a leaf from the sterling leadership qualities of Sardauna Dan Bello Namiji Uban Yan Boko. Sarduana you have died, but, the exemplary leadership you exhibited is still standing the test of time. May Allah bless the soul of Sir Ahmadu Bello and reward him with Aljannatul Firdausi. Amin.

Usman Garba Santuraki wrote in from No. 74, Tafida Street, Jimeta, Yola, Adamawa state.