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Kaduna, Nigeria (CHATNEWSTV) — Former Senator Shehu Sani has described the assassination of Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto and Premier of Northern Nigeria, during the January 15, 1966, military coup as a pivotal tragedy that continues to cast a shadow over Nigeria’s history.
In a post on his X account, Mr. Sani reflected on the legacy of Sir Ahmadu Bello, highlighting his selfless leadership and austere lifestyle. “The late Sardauna did everything for his people and his country but died a materially poor man,” Mr. Sani wrote.
Ahmadu Bello was killed during Nigeria’s first military coup, led by Army officers predominantly of Igbo extraction. The coup marked the beginning of a series of political upheavals and civil unrest in the country.
Mr. Sani, who represented Kaduna Central in the Senate, emphasized the simplicity of the late Northern leader’s life, noting the absence of any personal wealth or properties tied to Bello or his family in Kaduna.
“For those of us in Kaduna, where the late Premier of Northern Nigeria lived, led, and was brutally murdered, we couldn’t yet find any house, vehicle, or company traced to his name or any of his family members,” he stated.
He further revealed that after Bello’s death, his personal belongings were returned to his family home in Sokoto, underscoring his commitment to public service over personal enrichment.
Mr. Sani described the 1966 coup and the killings that followed as planting “the seed of evil” that continues to affect Nigeria’s unity and development. “His murder and that of others in 1966 was the seed of evil that continues to haunt our country,” he wrote.
As Nigeria commemorates the anniversary of the 1966 coup, the former senator called for reflection and remembrance of the victims. “May the souls of all the victims of the 1966 coup rest in peace. Ameen,” he concluded.
The January 1966 coup, which led to the assassination of Ahmadu Bello and other prominent leaders, is widely regarded as a turning point in Nigeria’s political trajectory. The events set the stage for ethnic tensions, counter-coups, and ultimately, the Nigerian Civil War.
