Prominent figures including Professor Ango Abdullahi, Professor Usman Bugaje, and Major Hamza Al-Mustapha (retd) recently gathered at the third General Hassan Usman Katsina Memorial Conference in Kaduna to address the Northern region’s ongoing struggles. The participants argued that the North’s socio-economic instability and security crises stem from a departure from the foundational principles established by the region’s early leaders.
Professor Abdullahi emphasized that the primary cause of regional stagnation is not a deficiency in infrastructure, but a profound loss of moral integrity and selflessness. He lamented that virtues such as honesty and discipline have been replaced by a focus on physical expansion without character. He urged current leaders to look toward the legacy of General Hassan Usman Katsina for guidance on accountability and public service.
Professor Bugaje highlighted the collapse of essential sectors, including education, healthcare, and agriculture, noting that persistent insecurity has decimated the region’s human capital. He criticized the regional elite for their passivity, suggesting that mere complaints about the state of the North serve only to highlight their own complacency. According to the speakers, addressing the environmental impact on Lake Chad and reclaiming lost moral standards are essential steps toward restoring the region’s prosperity.
