Bindawa said the prayer session that held in the three senatorial districts of Katsina, Daura and Funtua, was aimed at seeking Allah’s peace, harmony and protection for Katsina State in particular and Nigeria in general.
A special reception tagged ‘walima’ was organized by the government at the Katsina Islamic Bureau Office to mark the occasion. On Tuesday, September 25, 2012, a special dinner was also organized by the government. The dinner was held at the Presidential Lodge, Katsina Government House. All past military administrators and civilian governors in Katsina State were present except, Alhaji Sa’idu Barda who was said to have travelled abroad. They spoke one after the other at the event.
The former governor of old Kaduna State, Alhaji Muhammad Lawal Kaita, advised government and the organizers of the event to always remember and honour those who fought for the creation of the state, saying “they deserve to be remembered for their contributions to the creation of Katsina.”
Alhaji Abba Musa Rimi, on his part, hailed all past military administrators and civilian governors for their efforts towards educating Katsina citizenry.
The second military administrator, General Lawrence Onoja, lauded Governor Shema for completing all the projects started by his predecessor, the late Umaru Musa Yar’adua, saying “I am sure Katsina state will one day become the best state in the country.”
Onoja also thanked General Ibrahim Babangida for the creation of Katsina State, appealing to the people to develop the state. He also called on the governor to complete all ongoing projects before the end of his tenure.
Col. Yahaya Madaki, who was delighted with the level of development he saw in Katsina State, said “what I saw in Katsina was not what I left after my service as sole administrator of the state in 1992. I must salute Governor Shema for the power supply project he is executing. I was also impressed with the Youth Craft Village initiative.”
However, the 4th military administrator, Captain Acholonu, hailed the late President Yar’adua for developing the state.
When invited for his comments, Lt. Col. J.I Akaagerger said the achievements of Governor Shema within his five years in office was a political miracle. He said the peace and harmony being witnessed by Shema-led administration was possible because he involved everybody in his government. He also appreciated the foundation laid for primary school education, saying three universities would have been a waste if no foundation was laid for comprehensive primary education.
Speaking at the special dinner, Governor Shema said his administration had recorded successes in the areas of education, agriculture, health, water supply, road construction, infrastructures, noting that “the state had so far sponsored 270 students to Sudan for studies.”
“The former President, the late Yar’adua had suffered a lot in governing Katsina, but he excelled in transforming the state. Of all the projects we have executed in five years, Katsina State has never borrowed a kobo in the name of executing project,s” he said.
He said present administration is committed to transforming the state in all human endeavors, appealing to citizens to complement government efforts.
The governor, who pledged more meaningful projects, solicited special prayers from the citizens of Katsina State.
Shema, who reacted to the outcry of the people of Katsina on the ongoing new government housing project, said it is being constructed from the N7billion deposit interest.
Katsina State and its creation
According to the governor of the old Kaduna State Alhaji Kaita, the names of people like Alhaji Isma’ila Isa Funtua, Alhaji Magaji Muhammad, Alhaji Bala Saulawa, Alhaji Musa Yar’adua, Alhaji Ahmadu Commassie and himself should be written in gold because they were those who sacrificed their wealth and lives for the creation of Katsina State.
“Some of us suffered political persecutions during the struggle. I and Alhaji Magaji Muhammad for instance, were removed from our positions as commissioners for no other reason than the support and the role played in the creation of Katsina State,” Kaita recalled.
Sunday Trust gathered that, while Alhaji Saulawa served as the Public Relation Officer of the committee for the creation of Katsina State, Alhaji Isa Funtua was said to be the person who delivered the letter, seeking for the creation of the state.
Katsina State was carved out of the old Kaduna State on September 23, 1987 by the former Head of State, General Babangida. Located in the North-Western region of Nigeria, the state has land mass of 24,000 square kilometers and shares border with Niger Republic, Kano, Kaduna and Jigawa states. The state was created with seven local governments area; Kankia, Katsina, Dutsin-Ma, Mani, Funtua, Malumfashi and Daura. General Babangida created additional seven local government areas, while late General Sani Abacha added nine, making the number of local government areas to reach 34.
With the population of 4,536, 26 going by the 1991 census, Katsina State has two emirates; Katsina and Daura with Alhaji Abdulmumini Usman Kabir and Alhaji Farouk Umar Farouk as emirs of Katsina and Daura respectively. Like most of the northern states, the people of Katsina are mainly farmers and cattle rearers.
Past governors of Katsina State
Six military sole administrators and three civilian governors governed the state since its creation in 1987. Major General Abdullahi Sarki Mukhtar was the first military administrator between 1987 and 1988, and followed by Colonel Lawrence A. Onoja, who served from 1988 to 1989. Colonel John Yahaya Madaki took over the mantle of leadership in 1989 and left in January, 1992 after handing over to Alhaji Saidu Barda; the first elected civilian governor Katsina State. But following a military coup, Captain Emmanuel A. Achonolu was appointed sole administrator in December, 1993 and ruled the state until August 1996 when he handed over to Colonel Samaila Bature Chamah.
Lieutenant Colonel Akaagerger took over from Colonel Chamah in 1998 and ruled until 1999 when the military government under General Abdussalami Abubakar handed over power to civilian government. Akaagerger handed over to late Yar’adua, the second civilian governor after Sa’idu Barda, and then, the incumbent governor Shema assumed office as the third elected governor till date.
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