Emeka Ojukwu’s Impression of the Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello

“Whenever children, the heirs of our today, read the history of Nigeria, the one name tht must command admiration and one which will, without doubt, attract the largest fan club would be that of Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sardaunan Sokoto.

Here was a man every inch a prince who bestrode the Nigeria of his day and won, if not admiration, then the respect of friends and foes alike. Here was a man who roused the sleeping giant of the north from its centuries-old slumber and within the short span of six years placed it in a dominant position in Nigeria. He laid the foundations of a northern preeminence in Nigeria that has lasted until today and which threatens to last into the future without limit. In all his actions, the Sardauna was regal. When arrogant, his arrogance was perceived and accommodated as the normal prerogative of royalty – sort of droit de seigneur.

His perception of Nigeria was perhaps different from mine. His was more of a continuation of he Sheikh Uthman Dan Fodio’s grand design, than the creation of a modern Nigeria which favours accommodation as opposed to absorption. Everything Sir Ahmadu Bello believed, he believed sincerely. He was both haughty and down to earth, he was loved by those he led, of both high and low estate. He understood his people and inspired them to heights which they never appeared to think possible. A sa leader, he was superb and very successful. As a Nigerian leader we all wished he led us all, directed us all and inspired us all. His legacy was , however, a legacy of competition, a legacy of a dialogue into which north entered from a position of strength.

Sir Ahmadu Bello was in every sense a giant. He perceived northern Nigeria as his domain and proceeded by sheer force of character to pull up that section of Nigeria from its bootstraps. He took over leadership of the north when the north was weak and disadvantaged. When he left the scene after a short spell of time, the north had become the bully which everyone feared. He was a great leader of his people”

Source: “Because I am Involved”