POLITICS TODAY

By Shuaibu Gimi
(shuaibugimi1966@gmail.com)

The second General Hassan Usman Katsina Memorial Lecture which took place on 6th December 2025 at Hassan Usman Katsina House Kawo-Kaduna was an event that served more purposes than what was originally anticipated. It was not just the usual forum at which stories are told, lamentations are made and jokes are carelessly made, at the end of which not much benefits in terms of practicable recommendations and real actions are derived.

Clearly, the timing, venue and theme of the lecture, which was a big thumb-up for the late Chiroman Katsina were so special that that they provided opportunity for the various segments of the gathering to reflect on the situation in the country with a particular emphasis on the North vis-a-vis his personality and principles. All the presentations, discussions and exchanges amongst the participants strictly revolved around the man whose eminence was most recognised by even those who had chosen to despise him.

The organisers, New Vision Development Initiative (NEVDI), showed sufficient understanding of the basic issues that informed his principles as evident in the shape and content of the lecture, which ultimately triggered scientific thoughts on the numerous disturbing issues in the North. By creating a forum at which the contribution of the famous Prince of Katsina Emirate, traditional title holder, former Military Governor of Northern Region, one-time Chief of Army Staff and eventually Deputy Chief of Staff Defence Headquarters for the promotion of regional and national interests were duly lauded, the organisers had really done a great job.

Apart from the full acknowledgement of all the potency of his role in the management of regional unity and national cohesion, there was also a concurrence of opinions among the participants that the noticeable setback in the North is easily traceable to the absence of Hassan and his likes. The belief that the obvious derailment from the path toed by the past leaders, one of whom was Hassan, remains the cause of the deterioration of affairs in almost all spheres.

The participants’ conclusions on him were essentially a reflection or an endorsement of the testimonies of some of the prominent past military and civilian leaders who worked or associated with him. Such prominent personalities, some of whom were his contemporaries, strongly confirmed Hassan’s total commitment to national unity and development either while in service or after retirement from the military.

Lieutenant General Alani Akinrinade who was the Chairman of the occasion and Hassan’s immediate successor as Chief of Army Staff, for example, recognised the deceased as an “illustrious patriot of the highest order and distinguished military officer, well-liked and respected”. He recalled that General Katsina not only “served the war-time army with distinction and calm authority” but also, even after retirement, became a “model of rectitude, reticence and exemplary decorum”.

General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida’s goodwill message was another highly favourable testimony on the late Katsina to whom every Nigerian was a fellow compatriot and every Northerner a kin. The former military president confirmed that Hassan, for whom he had absolute respect, was “an honest and comprehensive statesman who, as Chief of Army Staff, discerned the need to keep Nigeria as one.”

Both Professor Ango Abdullahi and Dr Abubakar Siddique Mohammed who were the keynote speaker and guest speaker, respectively, extolled the virtues of late Hassan, lamented the prevailing situation in the North and, by extension, Nigeria and finally called for quick remedial actions. They, in the true manner of intellectuals and realists, interrogated the existing systems that allow for a breach of procedure in the management of public affairs and strongly advocated a change of approach as the only way out of the crippling situation.

Chairman of NEDVI’s Board of Trustees and former Military Governor of Niger State, Colonel Lawan Gwadabe (Retired), in a simple language mentioned the purpose for which the memorial lecture was organised: We gathered here today and did a great honour to a great statesman who left an indelible mark in the sand of time, in the history of Northern Nigeria in particular and Nigeria in general. He also appreciated the various categories of participants–military institutions and personnel for their solidarity, Katsina and Kaduna State Governments for their cooperation, the presenters for their effective delivery and the attendees for their patience.