Kashim Shettima: The Modern-Day Sardauna of Unity and Leadership
By Lawan Bukar Maigana
When the late Dan Masanin Kano, Amb. Yusuf Maitama Sule was asked about who Sardauna Sir Ahmadu Bello was, he eloquently described him as a leader with all the qualities, emphasizing how he embraced his political opponents and everyone around him without any bias.
He was a leader whose philosophy, if used today, could solve all the problems of Nigeria – political, economic, and social. He was a leader whose leadership cut across tribal, religious, and cultural boundaries. He was a true leader who led by example, a leader who believed in the division of responsibility, as Maitama Sule explained.
During our childhood, we were told that the late Sardauna was a unifier, and he upheld his trait by practically identifying the right people from every part of the North for appointment.
He believed that by doing so, he gave each region a sense of belonging, even though he believed that some people were destined to be leaders while others were destined to be workers, making sure each kept their own sphere of responsibility.
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Nigeria’s Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima is not only strategically equipping himself with the legendary qualities of Sardauna of Sokoto but also applying them politically to give every Nigerian a sense of belonging, thereby uniting us.
Unlike others, Shettima believes that our diversity is a strength that we can leverage for our collective growth as a country.
His team reflects this commitment to national unity. This inclusive approach has been his hallmark since his tenure as Governor of Borno State, where he ensured that representatives from every part of the state were involved.
When the Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, Sen. Barau Jibrin alongside other Arewa elites went to the State House at the Presidential Villa to receive the pardoned Kano minor protesters who were earlier charged for treason, Shettima kept aside the political differences between them, saying “all of you are my own,” jokingly reminding them of the bond that binds them.
Like Sardauna, Shettima has cultivated a legacy of inclusivity and unity, prioritizing Nigeria’s diversity as a strength rather than a divide.
Lawan Bukar Maigana writes from Maiduguri and can be reached via email: [email protected]
