Thursday twenty third of September twenty-twenty one is a day to be reckoned as per the history of katsina state is concerned because the day marked thirty four years of creating Katsina State from the defunct Kaduna State.
In deed a day after the pronouncement of Katsina State as a state of its own Administrative machineries take shape with arrival of top senior civil servants indigenes of the state arriving and where later followed, both senior, intermediate and junior once. Interestingly, economic activities with in the new capital started to appreciate especially given the fact that new arrival began to look for accommodation to settle down for business.
Along the line, the new first military governor connel Abdullahi Sarki Muhktar arrived with a heroed well come to the Accent City of Katsina, on arrival the young connel, Abdullahi Sarki Muhktar now a retired major general was treated with a colourful and entertaining durbar and a gallar night, infact, from creation in 1987 to date, Katsina State had about 4 democratically elected civilian and six military Governors and Administrators.
The civilian Governors include Alhaji Sa’idu Barda, Alhaji Ummaru Musa Yar’adua later president of Nigeria, Alhaji Ibrahim Shehu Shema and incombent Governor, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari
On another hand the military Governors and Administrators where retired major general Abdullahi Sarki muhktar, retired major general Anebe onoja, late Yahaya General Madawaki, late connel Abdullahi Bature Charma, retired Navy captain Emmanuel Achinolo as well as retired connel and later Senator Akagege.
Now how did katsina fear over this years and under both democratic and civilian at dispensation.
Surely katsina state from 1987 to date had lived from different human endeavour.
In education for instance katsina state without a single degree awarding institution at inception in 1987 can now boost up atleast seven to eight awarding institution such include: Ummaru Musa Yar’adua University and National open University, infact Isa Kaita College of education Dutsin-ma, Hassan Usman katsina polytechnic, Federal college of education katsina and NTI katsina Centre among others now run different degree programme and also other institution running different professional non degree programmes to meet the education need of the young others.
Certainly the primary and secondary education got serious boost within the last 34 years, infact it may not be possible to give run down number of such schools within the period under review.
In the health sector katsina at inception in 1987 had only seven general hospitals located in katsina, Malumfashi, Funtua, Kankia and Daura and could not address the health institutions, a proposed teaching hospitals which will soon come on board to facilitate the take off of faculty of medicine in Ummaru Musa Yar’adua Katsina.
In Daura also the Airforce referral hospital now attends to the health need of people.
In Agriculture, it is known fact that all the leaders that the state had produce with in the last 34 years did not throw away this sector due to the fact that within the period under review vast hectres of land where only been cultivated from the length and breath of the state thus, increasing the agricultural out put of the state.
The transportation area that has significant importance and relevance, therefore several communities where difficult to access hard with in the last 34 years been open up there by increasing socio economic well being of the benefiting communities in different ways.
Katsina state in 1987 has several number of offices both in state and federal
Another area that got significant attention within the last 34years is the area of water supply infact, apart from expanding major water works in bigger cities, thousand of communities got boreholes, open wells where sunk through the state rural water supply and sanitation agency RUWASSA and gidauniyar jihar katsina thus, reducing the water problems in respective communities across the state
In governance and leadership, Katsina State has been in the front burner of leaders that serve Nigeria in different capacity and positions, some elected while others on appointment beside katsina had produce 2 Nigerian leaders, late president Ummaru Musa Yar’adua and the incombent president of Nigeria Muhammad Buhari.
Also the first Northerner to be appointed and serve as chief justice of Nigeria late justice Muhammad Bello came from the state, so also the state produce 2 president of court of appeal in person of late Galadiman katsina Retired justice Mamman Nasir and Walin Hausa Retired justice Umar Abdullahi. Equally the state produce a judge at the supreme Court of Nigeria Retired justice Amiru Sanusi as well as the immediate chief judge of FCT High Court justice Salisu Garba and of course not forgotten former judge with the FCT known as sarkin pauwan katsina justice Adamu Bello among others.
In security, Katsina State has produce credible leaders that serves the country well among whom are Director General NIA Abba Sada zakari Ibrahim, the current Director General NIA Abubakar Ahmad Rufa’i, Retired inspector General of police late Ibrahim comassie, several DIGs, AIGs, Commissioners of police, a number of senior security chiefs, senior custom officers and Nigeria security and civil defence corp. Among others.
Additionally, Katsina state had produce a number of chief executives of various federal Agencies such as late managing Director News Agency Of Nigeria NAN Malan Wada Maida, the MDs of FERMA Engineer Kabir Abdullahi Barkiya known as Senator representing katsina central as well as the chief executive FERMA Engineer Nuradeen Abdulrahman Rafindadi, the chief Registrar of court of Nigeria Muhktar Dodo and Aliyu Ibrahim of the court of appeal
Similarly, the present clerk to the senate Ibrahim Dauda El’ladan is from katsina state, the Director General of SMEDEN Dr Dikko Umar Radda, the MD of Mortgage Bank Arc Ahmad Musa Dangiwa and Bature umar Masari who is the deputy chief of staff Government House.
Other notable personalities produced within the period under review where Executive chairman Federal Inland revenue service Kabir Mashi, MD printing and minting Abas Masanawa, DG NYSC Retired B.General Maharazu Tsiga, comptroller General of customs late Dikko Abdullahi Inde, DG FRCN Mansur Liman as well as professor Bako Matazu, professor Sani Abubakar Mashi are all sons of the state among others
Surely katsina state at 34 is a long journey but may God continue to BLESS katsina state and the people of the state.