It is now 26years since the death of Major General Hassan Usman katsina, until his death he was the katsina Prince ( ciroman katsina ) and the last Governor of Northern Nigeria. He served as chief of Army staff during the Nigerian civil war and Gowan regime, he later became the Deputy chief of staff supreme headquarters, Federal commissioner for establishment, expert polo player and one of the most influential man who lived out his retirement years in kaduna.
Hassan usman was born on March 31, 1933 in katsina to the sullubawa clan. His father Usman Nagogo was the Emir of katsina from 1944 to 1981. His grandfather, Muhammadu Dikko was the 47th Emir of katsina from 1906 to 1944.Later, Hassan was educated at Barewa college of Zaria, he then proceeded to the Nigerian college of Arts science and technology in Zaria.
In 1956, Hassan usman joined the Nigerian Army, as the military was still under colonial control. He trained at the ‘ Mons officer cadet school ‘ and the prestigious ‘ Royal military Academy Sandhurst’. Following independence, Hassan rose through the ranks of the military to become a Major General in the Nigerian Army. He commanded troops in kano and kaduna and served as an officer in the intelligence corps in the congo crisis where he received the congo Medal. He was viewed as a prominent and senior Northern military officer with links to the ruling class.
In 1968, General Hassan was appointed chief of Army staff, in this position he led the war effort by doubling the size of troops, blockade of supplies to Biafra and utilised air support from the united Arab Republic in 1970, he witnessed the unconditional surrender of Biafra to Nigeria.
Following the 1975 Nigerian coup d’etat, General Hassan retired from the military as the most senior experienced military officer at the time. After his retirement, he rejected several government appointments.
Hassan was respected within the military class as he led the promotion of several young officers who later led the military dictatorship in Nigeria .
He was later involved in the formation of political organisations such as the National party of Nigeria and the committee of concerned citizens, he was also the president of Nigerian polo Association of which his Father, Emir Usman Nagogo was life president and pioneer of polo in Nigeria.
General Hassan Usman Katsina ( Ciroma ) died on 24th july 1995 in kaduna.
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