37 Facts About Sa'adu Zungur

Mallam Sa'adu Zungur was a Nigerian revolutionary, poet, jurist and nationalist who played an important role in Nigeria's independence movement particularly in Northern Nigeria.

Sa'adu Zungur is generally regarded as the father of 'radical politics' in Northern Nigeria.

Sa'adu Zungur founded a number of political organisations, including the Zaria Friendly Society and Northern Elements Progressive Association, which later played an important role in shaping the region's political landscape and later influenced the establishment of subsequent political parties and movements.

Sa'adu Zungur passed away in 1958, just two years before Nigeria achieved independence.

Sa'adu Zungur was born in 1914 in Ganjuwa, Bauchi province to then Imam of Bauchi Muhammadu Bello.

Sa'adu Zungur grew up in a household that placed strong emphasis on religious teachings.

Sa'adu Zungur commenced his Islamic education at a young age and progressed to studying more advanced aspects of Islam, such as fiqh.

Sa'adu Zungur desired to study Chemistry and Biology at Yaba but was refused.

In 1939, Sa'adu Zungur was transferred to School of Hygiene in Zaria where he continued to teach.

The association was a platform which Sa'adu Zungur used to agitate for social reforms and to educate and enlighten the people of Northern Nigeria on political issues.

Sa'adu Zungur founded the Northern Provinces General Improvement Union during the time.

Sa'adu Zungur was later stricken with a lung disorder which led to take a break from teaching and to return to his home in Bauchi to rest.

The BGIU and BDC were avenues for Sa'adu Zungur to express his radical views, opposed to the Emir's autocracy and the British indirect rule system.

Orgle had been fond of harassing the female Hausa natives by bringing out his penis in an attempt to court them, leading Sa'adu Zungur to call him a Chilakowa.

Sa'adu Zungur took legal action against Orgle, and he was fined five pound sterling by a Jos magistrate court and redeployed elsewhere, serving no prison time.

Sa'adu Zungur regularly espoused "a secular national state based on "progressive" principles" while utilizing metaphors adapted from his religious heritage.

In 1946, Nnamdi Azikiwe extended an invitation to Sa'adu Zungur to join his West African Pilot newspaper, which was dedicated to advocating for independence from British colonial rule.

Sa'adu Zungur accepted the invitation and assumed the role of the Bauchi Province Correspondent for the newspaper.

Sa'adu Zungur was later promoted to the position of North-East Zone correspondent and eventually assumed the role of Chief Correspondent for the Northern Provinces in the West African Pilot in 1947.

Sa'adu Zungur held this post till 1951 and was as General Secretary that he travelled to London with Azikiwe as the NCNC protest delegation to the Colonial Office to demand for self determination for Nigeria.

Sa'adu Zungur was among the founding members of Jam'iyyar Mutanen Arewa or Northern Nigerian Congress, later Northern People's Congress, and attended in its 26 June 1949 inaugural meeting at Kaduna.

Sa'adu Zungur was particularly interested in this discussion which was said he "dominated".

The members were equally divided on this matter and, as the Adviser on Muslim Law, Sa'adu Zungur was called upon to provide his insights.

Sa'adu Zungur drew upon the writings of Usman dan Fodio, the founder of the Sokoto Caliphate and an advocate for women's education, to advocate for the inclusion of women in matters of importance and emphasizing the importance of their participation in various aspects of societal affairs.

Sa'adu Zungur remained in the party, retianing his position of Adviser on Muslim Law.

Sa'adu Zungur initially aimed to initiate reforms within the party, driven by his belief that the emirate system could be reformed.

Sa'adu Zungur encountered significant resistance from both the emirs and the political figures within the NPC who were resistant to his reformist ideas.

In 1954, amid his increasing disillusionment, Sa'adu Zungur made the decision to disassociate himself from the NPC and aligned himself with the more progressive NEPU, led by Aminu Kano.

Aminu Kano and Sa'adu Zungur referred to their political campaign as a jihad against the emirate authorities.

Sa'adu Zungur specifically entitled his memorandums as "Jihadi 131", referring to the 131 seats NEPU was contesting in the election.

Much like his contemporaries such as Mudi Sipikin, Abubakar Ladan and Aminu Kano, Sa'adu Zungur was a poet who utilized his literary skills to engage in political discourse.

Sa'adu Zungur's poems are still being taught in secondary schools in northern Nigeria.

Sa'adu Zungur's poem called upon the Emirs of Northern Nigeria to confront the challenges posed by the emerging era of republicanism.

Sa'adu Zungur highlighted the shift towards partisan politics and the emergence of educated elites who sought to take on leadership roles.

Sa'adu Zungur's poem questioned the relevance of the existing monarchical system in the face of evolving political dynamics.

Sa'adu Zungur's work encouraged the Emirs to engage with the changing socio-political landscape and consider the prospects of embracing a more republican approach.

Sa'adu Zungur passed away on 28 January 1958 due to his lung disorder.