Late General Hassan Katsina: Missing Nigeria leaders’ mess

July 24, 2014 marked 19 years of the death of General Hassan Usman Katsina (may his soul rest in perfect peace). Late Ciroman Katsina, former military governor of defunct northern Nigeria, deputy chief of staff supreme headquarters and federal commissioner for establishment and service matter as well as former life president of Nigeria Polo Association, answered his call from Almighty Allah on July 24, 1995. But unfortunately the north he left is not the same today.
Every day the ordinary citizens,especially northernerslive with late Hassan’s legacies because whenever tribal-cum-religious feuds broke out in the volatile areas of the North,Hassan, a concerned northerner and patriot, serves as a mediator and adviser – he is one of the few Nigerians respected and trusted, across tribal lines. A Hausa-Fulani, he did not partake of secret campaign to advance purely Hausa-Fulani and Islamic interest. Whenever he found himself advancing such interest, he did so in public. Even then, he was as Yoruba, Igbo, Kataf or Idoma as he was Hausa-Fulani.
I am always proud to associate with my motivator, mentor, teacher, and role model who encouraged me since I was less than 25-year-old.His memory is still what is moving my morale. No doubt, that when he died on July 24 at the age of 62 the encomiums showered on him by the nation were as copious as the regrets; and these came from all walks of life, indicating that he was a man of the people .
It’s a pity that the Nigeria that General Hassan fought to keep united has been turned into a jungle by a few selfish Nigerians. According to Major General R.A. Adebayor, OFR, late Hassan Katsina played a noble role as an honest and hardworking leader, an outstanding military officer who believed in one united Nigeria and displayed it during the civil war and thereafter until his death.
Also major General James J. Oluluwe, CFR, said Hassan Katsina as chief of staff encouraged and paid frequent visits to soldiers at war front, which immeasurably boosted the morale of the federal troop during the civil war. This result today is a united Nigeria. Again,Hassan’s former aide de camp, Colonel Chris Ugokwe (rtd), described the late General as a symbol of where ever he came from. He was a person who believed in justice, equity and peace,a virtue he upheld throughout his life.

The public regretted that such a selfless and unassuming man had died just as they praised his character; someone who reflected on the posh nature of wealthy ex-soldiers who lived as the last true Sardauna of the North. Thus comparinghimwith that great man who exited the world stage in the hell of bullets opened the way for the entrance of the military into Nigeria’s political scene – General Hassan took over just where Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, left off.

Whereas it is somewhat easy to try quantifying the Sardauna achievement in term of superstructure and his influence, it would be difficult to do so in the case of Hassan. The reason is that while Sir Ahmadu Bello operated in a far more halcyon environment of nascent party politics, the latter ruled the North in the time of war. His major concern was therefore the unification of the Nigerian federation and survival of the nation as the greatest and wealthiest on the continent of Africa.

Thus, therefore, informed his responds to issues throughout the civil war years in the 70s. He saw the secession of the Igbo as the greatest threat to the survival of the nation as a composite whole. He knew that if future generations should inherit any meaningful polity then his own generation must make sacrifices. While many in the regime used the opportunity of unelected leadership to maximize and hoard wealth, he committed himself to the task of unifying the country.

As leader of the biggest and most populous region, he was certainly the most powerful man in the country. He could have used his incumbency to enrich himself. The humble state in which he lived and died, when compared to the status of some of his contemporaries,depicts his leadership philosophy. Even after the war andthe long time after retirement from the army, Hassan remained a beacon of hope to many.
The poor went to him for assistance, be it a legal dispute or the quest of employment. And he helped all because he thought doing so was in the national interest. But today the North that the late General left and wished19 years ago is virtually upside down and automatically opposite to his vision and mission.