Sir Ahmadu Bello GCON KBE (Hausa pronunciationⓘ; born Ahmadu Rabah; 12 June 1910 – 15 January 1966), famously known as Sardauna of Sokoto, was a conservative Nigerian statesman who was one of the leading northern politicians in 1960 and served as its first and only premier from 1954 until his assassination in 1966, in which capacity he dominated national affairs for over a decade.

[citation needed] He was also the leader of the Northern People's Congress, the ruling party at the time, which was largely made up of the Hausa–Fulani elite.

[4] In 1934, Bello was made the District Head of Rabah by Sultan Hassan dan Mu'azu, succeeding his brother.

In 1938, he was promoted to the position of Divisional Head of Gusau (in present-day Zamfara State) and became a member of the Sultan's council.

In 1938, at the age of just 28, he made attempts to become the Sultan of Sokoto but was not successful, losing to Sir Siddiq Abubakar III who reigned for 50 years until his death in 1988.

Later, he was put in charge of the Sokoto Province to oversee 47 districts and by 1944, he was back at the Sultan's Palace to work as the Chief Secretary of the State Native Administration.

[citation needed] After returning from Britain, he was nominated to represent the province of Sokoto in the regional House of Assembly.

His work at the assembly and in the constitution drafting committee brought him appreciation in the north and he was asked to take on leadership positions within Jamiyya Mutanen Arewa.

During his period of premiership, his biographer, John Paden described him as a progressive conservative, because he was an agent of change and also of the traditional elites.

[8] Bello's leadership characteristics was a blend of religious, traditional and modern values and his obligation in colonial and post-independence Nigeria was performing these different roles in the northern region.

Regarding the policy, historian Kirk-Greene noted that "It is the Middle Belt people who have supplied most of the secondary schools and output of technicians; while their astonishing preponderance in all ranks of the army has been a surprise to correspondants just going to Nigeria".

[16] On 15 January 1966, Bello was assassinated by Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu a Nigerian Army officer in a coup which toppled Nigeria's post-independence government.

Also assassinated in the coup was his longtime friend Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa alongside many political elites in the north and in the west.

[citation needed] Bello's greatest legacy was the modernization and unification of the diverse people of Northern Nigeria.

On 16 January 1966 a military coup brought Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi to power, terminating the first period of democratic rule.