Sokoto State Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto has urged leaders across Northern Nigeria to draw inspiration from the leadership philosophy of the late Premier of the Northern Region, Sir Ahmadu Bello, saying those values remain critical to achieving lasting development in the region.
The Governor made the call in a message marking the annual remembrance of the Sardauna, who was assassinated on January 15, 1966.
Governor Aliyu described Sir Ahmadu Bello as a principled and visionary leader whose life was defined by simplicity, discipline, integrity, commitment to service, and deep reverence for God. He said these qualities enabled the late Premier to provide purposeful leadership at a defining moment in Northern Nigeria’s history.
According to the Governor, the Sardauna’s leadership stood out for its inclusiveness and selflessness, noting that he worked deliberately to unite the region by carrying all Northerners along, regardless of ethnic origin, religious affiliation, or geographical background.
He said today’s leaders must consciously study and apply the political, social, and economic reforms championed by the late Premier if the North is to overcome its current development challenges.
Governor Aliyu recalled that Sir Ahmadu Bello played a central role in shaping pre-independence Northern politics as the founding leader of the Northern People’s Congress, and made significant contributions to Nigeria’s independence in 1960, while consistently promoting unity and stability across the region.
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He also highlighted the Sardauna’s commitment to education, particularly his strong advocacy for Western education in the North, which led to the establishment of Ahmadu Bello University, now one of Africa’s foremost institutions of higher learning.
Other legacies cited include the promotion of agricultural growth, regional economic self-reliance, the creation of development-driven institutions such as the Bank of the North and the Northern Nigeria Development Corporation, as well as support for moral and cultural values.
Governor Aliyu called for a renewed regional framework to revive and adapt these legacies, especially in agriculture, stressing that the North’s vast arable land and human capital remain key assets for economic revival.
As the region marked 60 years since the assassination of the late Premier, the Governor offered prayers for Almighty Allah to forgive Sir Ahmadu Bello’s shortcomings, reward his service to humanity, and grant him Aljannatul Firdaus.
He noted that January 15, 1966 remains a defining date in Nigeria’s history, as the killing of Sir Ahmadu Bello and other leaders of the First Republic brought that era to an end and paved the way for military rule in the country.
(Editor: Ada Ononye)
