Reterdeen Staff
Born on the twelfth of June 1910, Sir Ahmadu Bello was a popular northern politician up until his death on January 15, 1966. He was a Nigerian government official who was the sole premier of the Northern Nigeria region, who also held the title of Sardauna of Sokoto.
Sir Ahmadu Bello, together with Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, was a top figure in Northern Nigeria. The two men played decisive roles in negotiating the place of the north and notherners in an autonomous Nigeria. As pioneer of the Northern People’s Congress, he was a predominant identity in Nigerian politics all through the early Nigerian Federation and the First Nigerian Republic.
Yet, there is more to this warlord than meets the eye.
Here are 7 facts about Sir Ahmadu Bello you don’t know.
He is the Great grandson of Uthman Dan Fodio
Uthman Dan Fodio is the much-loved researcher, instructor and warrior in Nigeria who is celebrated for spreading Islam through victory and furthermore originator of the Sokoto Caliphate in 1809. Uthman’s son and Bello’s grandfather was the first sultan of sokoto.
He was nominated for the post of sultan of sokoto when he was 29 years old
The northern premier was known for being intelligent at a tender age. At the age of 16, he finished top of his class and hence, it was no surprise when he was considered eligible for the top throne in sokoto when he was just 29 years old.
He is the founder of ABU – Ahmadu Bello University.
Sir Ahmadu Bello set up the University of Northern Nigeria, which extended from Samaru in Kaduna State to Funtua in Katsina State, making it the largest university in west Africa, on the fourth of October, 1962. Today, the university is known as Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.
He was murdered together with his first wife, Hafsatu
The tale surrounding his death is a mixture of love and bravery. On the eve of fourteenth January, 1966, Major Patrick Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu and his group of armed men touched base at his house in kaduna to kill him.
He advised his family to flee to safety, however they refused. They all trooped behind him as he left the family quarters and in seconds, he was encompassed by Nzeogwu’s officers who shot him. At that instant, his first and oldest spouse, Hafsatu, tossed herself at him in a last grasp and both of them got shot.
He was not extremely rich as he died with 10 pounds in the bank
Being one of the most powerful figures in pre-independence Nigeria, he was not materialistic even in the midst of corrupt politicians then. After his death, he had just 10 pounds in his bank account an equivalent of 5000 Naira by today’s conversion rate.
He was knighted in 1959 by the queen of England.
The queen of England made him a Knight of the British Empire which is why he is referred to as Sir Ahmadu Bello, a rare title given to an individual.
He was the son of his father’s concubine, Mariyamu
Even with so much intelligence, background and power, Sir Ahmadu Bello was conceived of a humble and distasteful line. His mother, Mariyamu, was not officially married to his father who died when he was just 6 years old.
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