THE MAN SARDAUNA WAS BY YUSUF MAITAMA SULE

Sir Ahmadu Bello KBE was Nigerian’s first and only premier of the Northern Nigeria region. He also held the title of Sardauna of Sokoto. As leader of the Northern People’s Congress, he was a predominant figure in Nigerian politics throughout the early Nigerian Federation. Sardauna and Tafawa Balewa were major figures in Northern Nigeria pre-independence affairs of state, and they both played major roles in the negotiations about the  region’s place in an independent Nigeria.

A leader who led with the philosophy of a herdsman, a herdsman who scarified his comfort, his life, his health for his cattle.”Maitama Sule”

These days we seldom have leaders who can take a herdsman approach on leadership. More often than not, it is a power struggle with their peers, or between the leader and his subjects. And in some cases an abuse of power by controlling the weak and vulnerable. Today people come into power to be served and not to serve. A terrible approach even a civilian should take, let alone our leaders. Everybody wants to know what the Government can do for them, not what they can do for the country. In fact, I doubt the people are aware of the things they can do for their country. Perhaps Sardauna was our last true patriot, in every sense of the word. A wise man (JFK) once said; ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.

“….That was Sardauna, a leader who studied the problems of his people and worked to solve them.” He added; “In those days people of Northern Nigeria did not identify themselves, by their tribes or religion, they were all “yan Arewa”

Wow! Yan Arewa, what a dream it will be to have that mentality today. Words really can’t begin to express the respect and admiration I have. But to say the least, is there really a greater achievement of a leader than uniting his people as one? I highly doubt that, perhaps you can now begin to understand the man Sardauna was.