Pomp as Katsina honours illustrious personalities

Friends and well-wishers from all over the country and neighbouring Niger Republic converged on the palace of the Emir of Katsina, Abdulmumin Kabir Usman, as the emirate turbaned some personalities with traditional titles. Some district and village heads were also turbaned at the ceremony.

The title holders were recognised for their respective endeavours and immense contribution to the growth and development of the emirate, the state and country.

It was also home-coming for many even as politicians temporarily discarded party affiliations to revel in the occasion. Also, business men and women, top government functionaries and bureaucrats were fully represented.

Traditional horsemen and camel riders thronged the palace to add colour to the event. Drummers and singers in regal attires were not left out as they entertained guests at the occasion.

Katsina State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Masari, his Deputy Mannir Yakubu alongside members of the State Executive Council and those of the state house of assembly were not left out as they graced the ceremony.

The Chairman, Conference of State Houses of Assembly Speakers and Speaker, Kebbi State House of Assembly, Abdulmumin Samaila Kamba led speakers of Borno, Sokoto, Kano, Niger and Zamfara states to felicitate with their colleague, Speaker of the Katsina State House of Assembly, Abubakar Kusada, who was turbaned as Garkuwan Katsina. Besides, the Managing-Director, Federal Mortage Bank of Nigeria, (FMBN) Ahmed Dangiwa and Member, representing Kankia/Ingawa/Kusada Federal Constituency of Katsina State in the House of Representatives, Babba Kaita were in attendance.

Infact, as early as 7am, people started trooping to Kofar Soro, the emir’s palace for the event. Flamboyant attires worn by awardees and close associates could be ignored as each tried to outdo the other.

Among the awardees was the Speaker of the state house of assembly, Abubakar Kusada who was turbaned as Garkuwan Katsina, the Member representing Katsina Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Sani Danlami as Garkuwan Arewan Katsina. Danlami attended Hassan Katsina Polytechnic and earned a National Diploma in Public Administration. In February 2012, he was appointed as Administrative Secretary of the Defunct Congress of Progressive Change (CPC) after the 2011 General Election, a position he held at the All Progressives Congress. Also, the immediate past Deputy Governor, Abdullahi Faskari was turbaned Dan-Yabanin Katsina and a former Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) General Maharazu Tsiga (rtd) as Barden Kudun Katsina.

Also honoured were Provost, Federal College of Education (FCE), Katsina, Dr Aliyu Funtua, Wakilan Malamam Katsina, Dahiru Bagiwa, Barden Gabas Katsina, Sada Ruma, Dan Wairen Katsina, Murtala Safana, Barde Kerarriya Katsina, Shehu Muhammad, Dan-Galadiman Alhazan Katsina, Abubakar Agawa, Maharin Katsina, Ibrahim Stores , Dan Garkuwan Katsina and Isah Abdulmumini, Falakin Katsina.

The District Heads turbaned were Magajin Malam Kastina and Hakimin Dan Musa, Alhaji Dadda’u Muazu and Dan Isan Katsina and Hakimin Rimaye, Alhaji Yusuf Yakubu.

The Village heads were Magaji Kwari Karkarku, Haruna Abubakar, Gunudmar Yandoma and Magajin Garin Yan Tumaki, Mallam Suleman Dangi Yantumaki in Gundumar Yantumaki.

Speaking after their turbaning, the Emir, Abdulmumin Kabir Usman congratulated the awardees and urged them to continue to live up to expectations.  Besides, he enjoined parents to monitor the movement of their children and wards because they are vulnerable and can be easily deceived by unscrupulous elements who may want to take advantage of them and dehumanise them, especially the young girls.

He decried the spate of rape cases in the state and called for the collaboration of community leaders and eminent personalities to curb the menace. The emir decried banditry, rape and drug abuse among the youth noting that “the issue of rape has become a major problem in the state. It happen every day and police cannot be everywhere.”

According to him, the role of eminent personalities in addressing these issues cannot be over-emphasised noting that as opinion leaders and people who command large followership and respect encouraging words will go a long way bringing the menace to the barest minimal level.”

“As parents, we have to monitor the movement of our children because they are vulnerable and can be easily deceived by some unscrupulous elements who may want to take advantage of them and dehumanise them, especially the young girls,” Emir Usman added.

The Deputy Speaker, Katsina State House of Assembly, Engineer Dalhatu Tafoki, said the assembly was overwhelmed with the title bestowed on its speaker. 

Immediately after the turbaning, the town was shut down as mini durbars were staged at various locations with drumming, singing and dancing in honour of the title holders.