Ahmadu Bello: Forty Years After
By
Ahmad Usman Kollere
January 15th is not a time for merry making in Nigeria, but a time for ardent prayers and reflections. This year, it marks the fortieth anniversary of Ahmadu Bello, Sardauna of Sokoto, and the Premier of Northern Nigeria, his painful and ill-timed demise. Every year around this time we remember him together with Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Festus Sam Okotie-Eboh, Chief S. L. Akintola, Brig. Maimalari, Col. Mohammad, Lt. Col. Largema and many other great personalities that lost their lives in the course of serving this nation. Trevor Clark (1991) has cited from Amaury de Reincourt that “The essence of history does not reside in the recorded facts, but in thoughts, emotions, ideas and aspirations of the human beings who have made it. Facts are only the outer shell”.
In line with this notion, it is difficult, if not impossible for us to adequately figure out the history of Nigeria, without having to reflect on the “thoughts, emotions, ideas and aspirations” of Ahmadu Bello and his contemporaries, especially during the most decisive and significant moments of our national history. Perhaps, that was even why, the English writer, Professor of Political Science, and the first dean of the faculty of Social Management Sciences of the Bayero University Kano, John Paden in his work Ahmadu Bello Sardauna of Sokoto Values and Leadership in Nigeria (1986) notes that “not to understand Ahmadu Bello is not to understand Nigeria, whether one agrees with him or not”. This, as he accordingly explained all through in that remarkable book, is due largely on Ahmadu Bello’s personality, his impact on the nation’s political development, the kind of values he represent, and the leadership example he provided among other important contributions he made on our national political psyche.
The late Sheikh Mahmud Gumi, who had also worked with the Sardauna as a Grand Khadi of Northern Nigeria and Chief Adviser on Religious and Judicial matters, in his book co-authored with Ismaila Tsiga Where I Stand (1992) notes that the Sardauna “meant different things to different people” because some people “feared and disliked” him while others exploited his potentials for their own purpose. He saw Ahmadu Bello as a world renowned bridge builder because together they have widely toured many parts of the world all in the name of mending fences of those countries that are at war with one another. His passion for progress and development was not borne out of political considerations only, rather it was a mission probably driven by the history of being the descendant of Usman Ibn Fodio.
Today, it is plainly evident, that the Sardauna was legendary in his unrelenting and tireless pursuit towards the betterment of this nation, in particular and Africa, in general. Ahmadu Bello and Tafawa Balewa were outstanding and instrumental in bringing Nigeria to limelight as an independent, single national entity, for their role and relationship with Britain and its leaders, during and after colonialism were well appreciated both at home and abroad. This can be observed in his active participation as a leading spokesperson of both the 1953 and 1957 London constitutional conferences. As a regional premier, the Sardauna was trusted and seen as a leader by his colleagues in the other regions; even the apparently superior president general and the prime minister were very keen in consulting him in most government matters. Accordingly, Just before the 1959 general elections, Dr Azikiwe has understood that the Sardauna was geared up to “sink and swim” with his party, the NCNC in managing the destiny of Nigeria. Since, Dr. Azikiwe sought to forget any difference in which the Sardauna insists on understanding these differences, so as to facilitate a get-together mood. The prime minister himself was obviously a close confidant, shortly before the ill fated morning of January 15th, he has confided in the Sardauna about a speech that he is to deliver to the parliament on the following Monday that they never saw. Again at about the same time, Chief Akintola, the premier of Western region, also, tripped to Kaduna on a chartered airplane from Ibadan, to seek the Sardauna’s advice on an important matter, just a day before the armed forces struck. This noticeably depicts that Ahmadu Bello is always at the center stage when it comes to important decisions and matters affecting not only the northern region but the nation as a whole. Even his staunch critics and adversaries were bereft and full of praises for him at his demise.
Mallam Aminu Kano, the leader of the opposition party NEPU, was among the bereft that gave their glowing tributes to the late Sardauna. Paden further explains that, the Sardauna is a Euro-Islamic-African if presented or even viewed in a world value system, thus he has a sevenfold personality civilization overlap. That means if viewed from the traditional African societies, Ahmadu Bello is “feared and respected”, the Afro-Islamic societies see him as a “Sokoto royal family member”, Islamic Judges and the Ulemas find him as an “ally moving in same direction”, Euro-Islamic students look at him as the “link with customary form of Islam”, some Euro-Africans perceive him as “effective administrator and manager”, again within the Euro-Africans, some group, like the non-Muslim nationalist and intellectuals, see him as a “regionalist often having little sympathy for the Islamic elements”, while some others look at him as having a “blend of religious, traditional and modern values”. One will not be tired of reading about Ahmadu Bello mainly because of his extinct qualities. His approach to opposition in not that of winning over, but that of attracting the opposed to his side, because of his dislike for oppression, he does not allow dirty tricks from his party men or regional officials against innocent people. He supports education and training because of his believes that leadership should be based on merit and competition. He is quick in unseating the sluggish and the fraudulent. In decisions, he is opposed to one man’s ruling rather he believes in group decision making thereby bringing the feeling of collective responsibility. At any length, he is open to ideas and suggestions, which was why he likes sharing responsibility with his educated and trained contemporaries. He is detribalized, fair in his dealings and when confronted with personal and critical decisions, the best interest takes precedence. This is evident if one observes how in 1962, on the departure of Sir Gawain Bell he recommended Kashim Ibrahim to the Federal Government and to the Queen for appointment as the Governor of Northern Nigeria. He is a visionary and humane leader who sees diligence and conscience as a necessary tool for working effectively for any nation and its people.
Ahmadu Bello’s administrative abilities in Nigeria is above board and matchless. From the foregoing, we may conclude that Ahmadu Bello was a historical convenience, whose untimely loss was a historical mistake that is bitter for all of us in this nation to eschew. He has set vast precedence for public administration, established and developed institutions and centers of learning that are still immensely utilized for the benefit of this nation. These must be seen as the “Heritage and legacies of Ahmadu Bello”. Regrettably, as we are about highlighting these laudable and impressive achievements, an important landmark of his legacy, the Bank of the North (BON), has been smashed, ruined and thrown to the dustbin of history. At this point it is will render our efforts nugatory if we do not pinpoint the laissez-faire attitude of those individuals and bodies that are suppose to take serious measures in ensuring that such important reserves were not easily allowed to slowly fade into the gush of nothingness. Posterity will not forgive whoever falsely loses his grip in bringing back to limelight this important institution that was well intended for the common good of our people. In a nutshell, Ahmadu Bello was during the first republic and of course the last part of his life, the leader of Northern People’s Congress (NPC) and the first Premier of Northern Region who, in the long run subordinated his personal interests and his life for this nation. He has enthusiastically put forward a well intended beginning for all those who want to follow and safeguard. He was a good Muslim who believed in hereafter and so he knew that he is responsible to God for all his actions. May Allah, the most high, illuminate his grave and forgive him.
Ahmad Usman Kollere