60th Death Anniversary: ADG Praises Ahmadu Bello’s ‘Legacy Of Unity’, Urges All Hands On Deck To Tackle Insecurity
The Arewa Discussion Group (ADG) on Thursday issued a statement to mark the 60th death anniversary of Sir Ahmadu Bello, who was the Sardauna of Sokoto and the first Premier of the defunct Northern Nigeria, reflecting on his unparalleled legacy of unity while calling for a collective action to confront the devastating security challenges currently threatening the very fabric of ‘our region’.
Sir Ahmadu Bello was assassinated by soldiers led by Major Kaduna Nzeogwu during the first military coup in the country on January 15, 1966.
Other key political figures killed during the coup in question include the then Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Chief Festus Okotie-Ebor and Chief Ladoke Akintola.
ADG in a statement issued by its spokesman, Dr. Garba Abari and made available to Team@orientactualmags.com on Thursday commended the late Sir Ahmadu Bello for making ‘a diverse North’ become ‘a united and purposeful family’.
‘Sir Ahmadu Bello’s greatest achievement was forging a diverse North into a united, purposeful family. His foundational principle, ‘What unites us outweighs what divides us,’ is not a historical footnote—it is the critical formula for our survival today. We face common enemies in banditry, insurgency, and kidnapping that recognize no ethnic or state boundaries. Our response must be equally unified.
A Legacy of Unity Versus a Present of Fragmentation:
The ADG acknowledges that the prosperous and peaceful society envisioned by the Sardauna is under relentless siege. The security architecture he helped to establish has been overwhelmed by new, complex threats. Where he built institutions for development, we now see institutions get strained by conflict; where he fostered communal bonds, we now see distrust and fear’ the statement said.
The group noted that the current piecemeal approach to security, where states and communities act in isolation, has proven inadequate while lamenting that the violence has resulted in tragic losses, displacing millions and crippling agriculture and commerce—the lifeblood of the regional economy.
‘The social fabric woven by our forebears is being torn apart by forces that thrive on our division’ the group lamented.
The Arewa Discussion Group, under its Chairman, Alhaji Maisudan Muhammed Bello, Tafidan Dutse’s leadership also noted that the time for rhetorical unity is over while adding that this moment ‘demands actionable and collaborative strategy’ and calling on all ‘leaders, political, traditional, religious, and communal’ to:
Move beyond ad-hoc meetings and develop a harmonized strategy to dismantle criminal networks. Ensure that the specific security and developmental needs of the North are addressed with the urgency and resources they require. A divided voice yields diluted results.
Mobilize Community Solidarity: Revive the Sardauna’s spirit of collective responsibility. Security agencies must work with rebuilt community trust frameworks to isolate criminal elements and protect vulnerable populations. We must see our security as interdependent’.
The ADG also noted that Sir Ahmadu Bello’s dreams of education, economic growth, and generational advancement cannot be pursued in an atmosphere of fear and instability adding that ‘insecurity is the primary obstacle to the North’s prosperity’.
‘No child can learn in a school under threat, no farmer can cultivate fields in fear, and no investor will build in a climate of risk’, ADG said.
The group also noted that tributes to the Sardauna must be a relentless pursuit of the conditions that allow his vision to flourish while adding that ‘this begins with securing our homes, our highways, our markets, and our schools’.
‘The ADG believes that the North stands at a crossroads. One path leads to continued fragmentation and decline. The other, paved by the lessons of our founding father, leads to a unified confrontation of our challenges and a reclamation of our destiny.
We must choose, decisively, to be our brother’s keeper.
The Arewa Discussion Group is committed to being a catalyst for this essential unity. We call for an immediate, summit of northern leadership dedicated solely to forging a concrete pact for regional security. Our collective future depends on the courage we show today’ the statement added-Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079, 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com. Thank you
