At last, a foundation for Sir Ahmadu Bello
On October 17, all roads led to Murtala square as people trooped to the launching. Significantly, four past heads of states, serving governors and ministers, including the senate president as well as royal fathers graced the occasion, as did a multitude of others. Speech after speech, the late northern premier was extolled and the Sardauna, […]
On October 17, all roads led to Murtala square as people trooped to the launching. Significantly, four past heads of states, serving governors and ministers, including the senate president as well as royal fathers graced the occasion, as did a multitude of others. Speech after speech, the late northern premier was extolled and the Sardauna, in figurative terms, came alive last Saturday, 43 years after his demise. At 9am, the official commencement time, the venue was already filled with people and some dignitaries were already seated. Horses, exotic cars and limousines conveyed the men of substance to the venue. Significantly, Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, dressed in full royal regalia, arrived around 9.40 am with courtiers in tow. Alhaji Ado Bayero, the emir of Kano, came afterwards and his arrival caused a stir and the crowd insisted on seeing Sarkin Kano to his seat. The emir joined other royal fathers, including Alhaji Shehu Idris, the emir of Zazzau; Alhaji Umar Bahago, emir of Mina and emir of Gwandu Bashar Iliyasu. At 10.15am, the northern governors arrived in a bus.
Remarkably, their arrival was the prologue to the swelling act as soon afterwards, the opening address, land mark speeches and reminiscences of Sarduana followed. Justice Mamman Nasir, Galadiman Katsina and chairman steering committee, set the ball rolling as he recalled when, how and who initiated the foundation. The idea, according to him, was mooted in the 1980s and Sir Abubakar III, the then Sultan of Sokoto and Sardauna’s cousin, was the prime mover of the project. Specifically, following his demise, the vision continued and in 1996, the idea gathered momentum when Alhaji Muhammadu Maccido ascended the throne. Ten years later, in Febuary 2006, Sardauna’s family members met on the issue and relations and associates “like Sarkin Sudan Alhaji Shehu Malami, Alhaji Abdullahi Abubakar, Galadiman Bichi, Marafa Umaru Shinkafi, Magatakarda, Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir attended the meeting .” The family, the Justice recalled, resolved to inform Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara as well as Kaduna state governors of the idea and to set up a steering committee for the foundation. Comprising Shinkafi, Shehu Malami and Justice Nasir, the steering committee was set up and Galadiman Katsina, by consensus, was asked to head it.
Simultaneously, Gamji Memorial Clubs were also working in that direction in the universities, along with Gamji Members Association, a conglomeration of Gamji Club Old Boys. The duo of M.A Sadiq and Nasiru Sadiq, Justice Nasir recalled, went to Alhaji Maitama Sule to sell the idea but Danmasanin Kano directed them to him.
However, in spite of all efforts, the foundation was just a vision on the drawing board until they reached out to northern governors. Collectively, the governors moved from vision to action by registering the foundation, instituting a Board of Trustees and driving the project through. Last Saturday, Justice Nasir’s pioneering efforts, the contribution of Sardauna’s family and associates, including the token of Gamji Memorial Clubs as well as the platform of the Northern Governors’ Forum culminated to the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation launch.
In his speech, Dr Mua’zu Babangida Aliyu, the chief servant of Niger state said as much. Dr Aliyu, in a stentorian voice, extolled the virtues of the late premier and in addition, he outlined the foundation’s mission, proposed structure and allayed the fears most people.. The foundation, according to him, will “promote good governance, responsible leadership for the overall development of Nigeria and especially the northern states. “Similarly, it will focus on “agriculture, education, resuscitation of ailing industries, eradication of poverty, destitution and street begging which are taking dangerous dimensions in the north.” Through skills acquisition and entrepreneurial development, youth and women will be empowered and all these activities, according to chief servant, will be funded by the foundation’s investments.
The foundation, he revealed, will partner with reputable organizations in real estate and property development, in addition to collaborating with individuals, corporate bodies and international agencies with shared vision and values. Assuring donors and the general public, governor Aliyu said that mechanisms have be put in place for the prudent, efficient and transparent management of the foundation and the funds accruing to it. To this end, a credible Board of Trustees and a solid management, comprising respected and honest Nigerians, shall serve as patrons of the foundation. Everybody, he further appealed, should donate or pledge what is real and redeemable.
However, before the naira rain, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, former president of Nigeria, Senate president David Mark and Yusuf Maitama Sule, a minister in the first republic, gave insights on Sir Ahmadu Bello. Sar’dauna, according to Mark, believed in one Nigeria, development and the unity of all peoples and imbibing these values, he noted, is the best way to commemorate the late premier. As a teacher, Ahmadu Bello taught Shagari in 1951 at Sokoto Middle School and subsequently, he worked under Sardauna. He described the late premier as a firm teacher and a thorough administrator and stickler for punctuality who did not tolerate lateness of even five minutes.. This generation should not only read about him, Shagari advised, but it should also imbibe Sardauna’s punctuality. After Mark and Shagari had spoken, Maitama took the floor and the elder statesman, in both oratory and stagemanship, lived up to his title as the knowledgeable one.
However, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, the chief launcher, prefaced the main act with a long and boring speech. Expectedly, he neither had Maitama’s oratory, nor Babangida Aliyu’s commanding tone but he made up with his deep pockets. Significantly, he shelled out N250 million and his siblings Aliko Dangote and Sayyu Dantata, gave N150 million and N50 million respectively. In all, N779, 480,000 came out of Kano state, including Aminu Dantata’s, signifying the highest donation at the launching. Sokoto, from where Sardauna came, followed closely with N651million and Kaduna state, the place where Gamji lived, gave N250 million and 100 hectres of land for the proposed foundation building. Similarly, Taraba, Niger and Adamawa states gave N250 million each while Nasarawa, Kogi and Plateau states as well as Benue, Katsina andGombe states doled out N200 million each. In addition, Zamfara, Kebbi and Bauchi states donated N170 million each while Borno gave N150 million. In all, every northern state coughed out or promised something.
Individuals and corporate bodies also loosen their purse strings and donated to the foundation. The House of Representatives gave out N64 million while the Federal Executive Council donated N20 million and FCDA gave N10 million. Governor Adams Oshiomohle donated N20 million on behalf of Edo state and N5 million from his own account. Ex Governor Victor Attah of Akwa Ibom state and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar gave out N2 million and N2.5 million respectively. On the whole, in plegdes, bank drafts and cheques, including cash donations, about N5.5 billion was realized at the launch.
Given that most of Sardauna’s legacies, especially the comatose Kaduna Textiles Limited, the tottering New Nigeria Newspapers and the undercapitalized New Nigerian Development Company are in dire need of funds, is it not better to revive them instead of charting another course? Perhaps, the brains behind the foundation want to build their own legacies.