Twenty four years after, the vacuum left by General Hassan is yet to be filled. 24th July of every year marks the death of a great patriot, the former military Governor of the defunct Northern Region, now 19 states. May Allah have mercy on him.
“ANASO ATABAMU ‘YAN AREWA ANA TSORON MANYAN MUTANE”, literarily means they want to hurt us northerners, but they are afraid of our influential people, according to late Alh.(Dr) Mamman Shata, Katsina. Permit me to pay my “tribute” to this great patriot, royalist, a Generals’ General, and an elder statesman to the core.
General Hassan Usman Katsina was born in July 24th of 1933. He attended Kankiya Elementary School and Katsina Middle School. After finishing middle school, he went to Barewa College, Zaria and the Nigerian School of Arts, Sciences and Technology also in Zaria. He joined the Nigerian army in 1956. He was the First Military Governor of the defunct Northern Region. During the Nigerian civil war, he was the Chief of Staff, Army and later became the deputy Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters under the administration of General Yakubu Gowon.
The late Ciroman Katsina was a man of “Integrity”, for he ruled the entire Northern Region more than 70% of the total landmass of the country called Nigeria as Governor, but died in 1995 relatively poor. He left only three houses despite being a governor for entire Northern Region. Two of the houses were located in Rock Road, Unguwan Sarki Kaduna. Of the three houses, one of them was built and donated to him having realized that he had no befitting house in his “home state” of Katsina. A man of integrity indeed!
The late General Hassan Usman Katsina did not leave “billions” or “estates” to his children despite being a Governor of the entire Northern Region, but of course, left “Good” name for the family. He did not share “money” to people, for he did not “steal” from the public coffers to share.
General Hassan assisted the children of many poor people to secure jobs. He had had a “high” level of “integrity” to the extent that wherever he recommended you for “employment” you would get the job. During his life time whenever you went to him for assistance in order to get recruitment into the “Nigerian Customs Service” he was fond of saying why not the armed forces? The General was reported to have once jokingly told someone who said that he wanted to join the Nigerian Customs that was it because he wanted to “steal” from the public coffers that he wanted the job? He despised corruption and indiscipline.
General Hassan fought for the stoppage of street begging which was (and still) very common among northerners. He had tried to collaborate with other Northerners in his quest to provide a lasting solution to the menace, but to no avail.
He considered all his “employees” as well as their children as his own children. Whenever, any of his employees has a “new baby born”, you could be rest assured that, General Hassan would shoulder the financial responsibilities not from the employees’ salaries, but from his pocket. Whenever any of his employees fell sick he paid all the bills free of charge.
Before his death out of the 34 domestic staff he had virtually all of them bought their personal houses either assisted directly by him or through his influence. More so, virtually all of them had performed “Hajj”(Muslims Pilgrimage) through his assistance. He was very generous to his workers. Being a highly respectful General he got enough gift every Ramadan from his rich friends and relatives.
More so, unlike what many people do, he had never “stored” for his personal used alone. He shared it with his employees and the general public. Even Sallah rams and food, Ciroma would share with the masses. Ciroma had time to listen to people problems from morning to evening every day. Ciroma’s house was a centre of attraction for both the “elite” and the “masses” during his life time.
General Hassan Usman, Kastina a descendent of Emir Muhammadu Dikko the first Emir of the Sulubawa ruling House and the ninth Fulani rulers of Katsina and the son of Emir Usman Nagogo the 10th Fulani rulers of Katsina and the second ruler of the Sulubawa Dynasty 1944-1981. General Hassan died and left ten (10) children: (1) Alh. Mustapha, (2) Hajia Jummai Tijjani Ramalan,(3) Hajia (Dr) Amina,(4) Alh. Babangida Hassan,(5) Alh. Yusuf, (6) Hajia Aisha, (7) Alh. Haruna, (8) Hajia Hafsa, ( 9) Alh. Dikko, and (10) Hajia Hauwa Hassan Usman Kastina.
May Allah forgive Ciroman Katsina! May Allah grant Ciroma Aljannatur Firdausi!
Nurudeen Dauda wrote from Kaduna [email protected]
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