Former Niger State Governor and Chairman of the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation (SAMF), Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, has raised alarm over the escalating insecurity across the country, lamenting that despite the symbolic presence of “19 Sardaunas,” the North lacks the peace and order once synonymous with Sir Ahmadu Bello’s era.
Aliyu spoke at a dinner organised in Kaduna to celebrate his 70th birthday, where dignitaries, former governors and associates gathered in his honour.
Expressing deep concern over rampant killings, kidnappings and general lawlessness, he stressed that no government can justify failure in its primary duty of protecting citizens.
“We now have 19 Sardaunas in name, but what are we seeing? Insecurity everywhere. In those days, one murder shook the entire North because life was valued,” he said.
He urged governments to prioritise security over infrastructure, insisting that flyovers and physical projects cannot replace the need for safety.
Reflecting on the values of Sir Ahmadu Bello, Aliyu described the late Premier as a leader marked by integrity and sacrifice, who left behind no wealth but a legacy of discipline and fairness.
Now “70 years plus 13 days,” Aliyu said he had entered a phase of gratitude, introspection and spiritual reflection.
He recalled his schooling years under the Northern Region’s system of free, quality education and called on the North to return to purposeful leadership and educational investment.
Speakers at the event, including DG of SAMF Engr. Gambo Abubakar, Iyan Zazzau and SAMF Deputy BOT Chairman Munnir Jafaru, and former Kogi Governor Capt. Idris Wada (rtd.), praised Aliyu’s integrity, visionary leadership and contributions to northern development.
Other well-wishers described him as a principled, humble and inspiring leader whose influence continues to shape lives and institutions across the country.
COV: Khadija Kubau
