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In Memory Of Late Sir Ahmad Bello By Muktar Yakubu
Late Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto also Gamji dan kwarai (May Allah grant him eternal peace) ‘’was a politician of distinction, unaffected by selfish interest, dedicated to service and committed to unity and the brotherhood of the human person’’ Late Wada Nas. On 15thJanuary 1966 he was killed by misguided military officers mostly Igbos, as a result of failed coup d’état. The Ahmadu Gamji Dan Kwarai was a fundamentalist for unity, an embodiment of democracy and civilization. He dedicated his life for service to humanity and he died in such. He worked assiduously for unity of Nigeria and North in particular. During his reign the North was a united entity with no reference to tribe or religion, people in the region came to be associated with NORTHERNERS as a tribal name, rather than reference to a particular region, religion or race as the current situation. In his time the north was a magnet; attracting all sphere of human being. The over two hundred tribal groups considered themselves as Northerners with any rancor, different from the current situation, in which people make reference to race or region. Today the North has becomes a disjointed family. People no longer fight for unity and progress of the region but self aggrandizement. Sir Ahmad was a liberal person who believed in freedom of worship for every Tom, Dick and Henry. He did not allow his selfish interest to override public wishes. Before I proceed I would like my reader to deduce from one of the Sir Ahmadu Bello’s speech to be mention below ‘’Here in the Northern Nigeria we have People of Many different races, tribes and religious who are knit together to common history, common interest and common ideas, the things that unite us are stronger than the things that divide us. I always remind people of our firmly rooted policy of religious tolerance. We have no intention of favouring one religion at the expense of another. Subject to the overriding need to preserve law and order, it is our determination that everyone should have absolute liberty to practice his belief according to the dictates of his conscience…” - Sir Ahmadu Bello People criticize Gamji with some mockery names like dictator, jihadist, anarchist, regionalist, religionist etc. I cannot say you should not criticize Sir, Ahamadu Sardauna but the fact remains that he is a non controversial figure and a liberal person who look at individual rather region. It was same Sardauna who you ascribed with all sort of names that recognized an achievement made by a Christian Plateau boy and finally sent him outside country to studies mining engineering. Also, same Gamji bought the first Bible for late Chief Sunday Awoniyi former Chairman of Arewa Consultative Forum. I had that Baba Ahmadu Ahmadu Bello did become angry with Christians who didn’t go to the Church, he even drove some to the Churches. Same Sardauna had at his midst the like of Micheal Audu Buba, from Plateau, Edward Maminso from Adamawa, Jolly Tanko Yusuf from Taraba, Mr. Achimugu from Kogi and several other notable Christian ministers who had very close political relationship with him. His deputy the Makaman Bida was not a Hausa/Fulani but Nupe. I am calling on the critics to continue with their criticism. As words cannot destroy greatness nor can they bring down a steady fence. I heard that “one only criticize when he/she has nothing to say about him/herself. So please, criticize Ahmadu but know that your criticism is worthless if you have not done better than Gamji. It was same Ahmaddu Bello who was reported to have told Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe and Chief Obafemi Awolowo “Don’t envy the unity of the North but worry about the division in the South so that we can have a united South and a united North in a united Nigeria". It was upon this that he once advised Dr. Nmamdi Azikwe that for us to achieve unity in Nigeria we need to appreciate our differences so that we can live of them. Same Ahmad Bello you call a corrupt and greedy person left only a traditional house neither a car nor saving despite his influence. Same corrupt Sardauna issued a query to a minister, who was a party officer, for failure to account for 50 kobo! One that is certain you cannot stop people from criticism; Prophet Muhammadu and Isah Alaihin Salam (Jesus) was criticized rather than Gamji. I only bring this to the fore, as a remembrance to who I considered my hero and role model. Long Live, Northern Nigeria Long live Nigeria. |