The untold story of creation of Katagum State
Since the return of multi-party democratic governance in 1999, there have been agitations for creation of more states in Nigeria. The purpose of state creation is to bring development closer to the people. So, the agitation for the proposed Katagum State deserves consideration.
Katagum is the second largest emirate next to Bauchi emirate in terms of population and size. It is made up of seven out of the 20 LGAs that make up of Bauchi State. It has an area of 13,000 square kilometres.
Indeed, Katagum zone has been agitating for a state since the 1980s as it was one of the 50 states shortlisted in 1981 and one of the 20 recommended for creation during the Abacha-led regime.
The zone is fully endowed with vast fertile land suitable for producing a wide range of agricultural products such as rice, maize, vegetables, tomatoes, beans to name but a few. The people engage in massive production of both cash and food crops during dry and rainy seasons. Irrigation farming is the major source of wealth for the people as the zone is watered by a number of rivers, dams, water sources, such as Jama’are river, Bunga river, Maladumba lake, Gambaki dam, Disina dam, Gulka dam, Zaki dam, to mention a few.
In the current era of economic diversification, and the move to bring back the lost position of Nigeria as net exporter of agricultural products, the aforementioned factors will definitely make the proposed Katagum State capable of sustaining itself economically, achieving food security, diversifying its economy and generating millions of jobs for the teeming unemployed youths and graduates in the zone. If this long-awaited proposed Katagum State actualizes, it will without doubt, be attracted to internal and external investors particularly in the agro-allied-sector.
The proposed Katagum State is richly equipped with educational infrastructure such as Bauchi State University, Gadau, Aminu Saleh College of Education Azare, College of Administrative Studies and A.D Rufa’i College for Legal and Islamic Studies. In the same vein, the zone is blessed with so many influential individuals and highly educated people in every field of human endeavour as it has nearly 146 PhDs and 47 professors capable of handling the affairs of this long-awaited state efficiently.
However, Senate Committee on Constitution Review on 8 August, 2021 has recommended the creation of 20 new states, according to reports.
They also proposed that referendum be conducted for the 20 new states by the Independent National Electoral Commission with conditions.
Some of the proposed states are:
- ITAI State (from Akwa Ibom State)
- State status for the FCT
- Katagum State from Bauchi State
- Okura State from Kogi East
- Adada State from Enugu State
- Gurara State from Kaduna South
- Ijebu State from Ogun State
- Ibadan State from Oyo State
- Tiga State from Kano State
- Ghari State from Kano State
- Amana State from Adamawa
- Gongola State from Adamawa
- Mambilla State from Taraba State
- Savannah State from Borno State
- Okun state from Kogi State.
- Etiti State from the South East Zone
- Orashi State from Imo and Anambra states
- Njaba from the present Imo State
- Excision of Aba State from Abia State;
- Anioma State from Delta State
- Torogbene and Oil River States, from Bayelsa Delta and Rivers states
- Bayajida State from parts of Katsina, Jigawa, and Zamfara states.
On Monday 24 May 2021, the Bauchi State Government gave the assurance of its commitment to facilitating the actualization of the creation of Katagum State out of the state.
The state governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, gave the assurance while receiving a delegation of the Movement for Creation of Katagum State at the Government House, Bauchi.
According to the governor, the creation of the proposed Katagum State was long over due and informed that the request had been endorsed by the state government.
Governor Mohammed, who was represented by his deputy, Senator Baba Tela, informed the delegation that he had already ordered the inclusion of the agitation in the memoranda to be presented at a public hearing on constitutional amendment to be conducted in the state on Wednesday and Thursday this week.
The leader of the movement and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Alhaji Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, informed that three Emirate Councils of Katagum, Misau and Jama’are were proposed to form the new state.
According to the former SGF, creating a new state out of the present Bauchi State was an added advantage. He, therefore, appealed to Governor Mohammed to be part of the struggle for the creation of Katagum State.