First Among Equals

"In some countries they are experiencing difficulties upon independence they are having troubles," said the massive man in flowing blue robes as he read the news from the Congo. Laying a broad brown hand on his ample girth and stretching up to his full 6 ft. 3 in., Alhaji Sir Ahmadu Bello, 51, the Sardauna of Sokoto, proudly told a Manhattan audience in clipped Oxford English: "But we in Nigeria are trained administrators. We have an old tradition. We inherited leadership from our ancestors. The blood of generations of leadership is in us, running in our veins."

Sir Ahmadu's bloodline runs back to his great-grandfather, who in 1802 carved out a Moslem empire through the mostly arid northern half of Nigeria. But Sir Ahmadu has brought off the neat trick of turning feudal domain into political machine. When the British called elections last December, as a first step toward independence, the Sardauna stumped the walled cities of the north in a campaign that included such innovations as helicopters, skywriting and more than one stuffed ballot box. His party won 142 out of 312 seats in the federal Parliament. Already Premier of the Northern Region, he wants no national office, with feudal condescension describes the new federal Prime Minister, Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, as "my deputy." But Sir Abubakar, who is British-educated and will govern through what looks like a workable coalition with the non-Moslem eastern region, has gained major stature of his own, has gradually established his leadership of the new territory in fact as well as name.

On Oct. 1, Nigeria will become Africa's most populous new nation (35 million). "We need assistance," said the Sardauna, whose frank pitch for both public and private capital took him from Wall Street to the offices of Secretary of State Christian Herter. "We need expert advice, money and equipment. We have a shortage of trained workers. Our supplies of power and water are not at present adequate. Our transport system is far from perfect. But the British were good tutors. We have attained our independence without riots, without hatred."

He has no doubts about the direction Nigeria will face or his pride in its stature. Said the Sardauna: "We know our friends, and we should state quite firmly that we stand solidly with them in foreign affairs. We will join the Commonwealth. When independence comes, Nigeria will rise first among equals in Africa."

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