Gwadabe Warns of Northern Collapse Without Hassan Katsina’s Legacy

…..30 years after his death, leadership void threatens region’s unity

By Uangbaoje Alex, Kaduna

Northern Nigeria is on the brink of collapse unless it revives the values and leadership principles of the late General Hassan Usman Katsina, retired military governor and Chairman of the New Vision Development Initiative (NEVDI), Col. Lawan Gwadabe (rtd), has warned.

Gwadabe, speaking ahead of the 30th memorial anniversary of the elder statesman, said the region is “drifting dangerously” due to a disconnect from the discipline, fairness, and equity that once defined its leadership.

“The North will collapse under the weight of corruption, illiteracy, insecurity, and failed leadership unless we go back to the values personified by Gen. Hassan Katsina,” he declared.

He described Gen. Katsina as a leader who placed national unity above personal interest, championing inclusive governance and selfless service during some of Nigeria’s most turbulent periods.

“Gen. Hassan laid a foundation of trust and merit-based leadership. He united a diverse region. Today, we are divided, insecure, and lagging behind,” he lamented.

The upcoming Second Gen. Hassan Usman Katsina National Leadership Conference, scheduled for later this month in Kaduna, is expected to serve as both a tribute to the late leader and a forum for reflection on the region’s trajectory.

“This memorial is not about nostalgia. It is a mirror reflecting our failings. What would Gen. Hassan say if he saw the North today mired in poverty, with millions of out-of-school children and growing ethnic tension?” Gwadabe asked.

The former governor criticized Northern political elites for prioritizing personal gain over collective welfare and abandoning the inclusive ethos that once bound the region together.

“The North today is ruled by transactional politics. If we fail to return to the kind of service Gen. Hassan stood for, we risk losing our identity, unity, and relevance in the Nigerian project,” he warned.

On education, Gwadabe described the growing Almajiri population and literacy crisis as “a ticking time bomb worsened by years of political neglect.” 

He praised President Bola Tinubu’s creation of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education but cautioned that it must remain free of politics and focused on justice and equity.

“Gen. Hassan never played politics with education. He believed it was the bedrock of stability and fairness. He would not have tolerated the generational neglect we are witnessing today,” he added.

Calling on Northern governors, traditional rulers, and emerging political leaders to study and emulate Katsina’s leadership model, Gwadabe said:

“Even after his death, Gen. Hassan remains a reference point not because he wielded power, but because he was principled. That is the missing link today.

“We either revive the Hassan Katsina legacy or continue our descent into chaos. The North must choose,” Gwadabe said.