Welcome and introduction
Today, 21st March, 2021 is BAREWA COLLEGE CENTENARY – 100 YEARS of existence, what an eventful day and occasion. Congratulations Barewa College and greetings and best wishes to all who had passed through the portals of this citadel of learning in the last 100 years. To all of us alive on this centenary, let us thank God/Almighty Allah for his goodness, blessings and gift of life over the years. And to all those that have gone before us, we pray for God’s mercy on their souls; may their souls rest in peace with the Lord/Allah Shi jikansu, Shi yi masu Rahama, Shi basu Aljanna, Firdaus – Amin.
Twenty-five years ago, in 1997 I had the honour to deliver the Barewa College, 1997 Lecture and today, I am highly honoured and delighted to be called upon again to deliver the Barewa Centenary Lecture. Let me warmly welcome you all that are here and to let you know that you are all dearly appreciated and valued as colleagues old and young. I wish to thank all the guests and friends of Barewa College from other government colleges and institutions. I am sure you want to hear about the college.
Brief story about the college
For the benefit of our guests and those who may not know and wish to know about BAREWA College and how it came about, I would like to take you through its history in brief. The need for education in the Northern Provinces/Protectorate in the first quarter of the 20th century, 1900, made the colonial Governor General of Nigeria at the time, Sir Hugh Clifford to establish an institution of higher learning in the Northern part of the country and the first of such institution was located in Katsina in 1921. It was called “Katsina Training College” initially for training of teachers for the government middle schools not full secondary school that were being built in each of the 12 Provinces in the North at the time. It was later up-graded and still in Katsina, to “Katsina Higher College” for the training and development of higher level man-power for employment in the government Civil Service and technical services. It was decided to move the college to a more central location, Zaria but instead moved to Kaduna in 1945 as Kaduna College. The College was finally moved to Zaria in 1949 as Zaria Secondary School and in 1956 it was renamed Government College, Zaria as it final destination and location.
With these changes of name – Katsina Training College, Katsina Higher College, Kaduna College, Zaria Secondary School and later in the mid-50s (1956) it was re- named Government College Zaria. Years later, in 1971, at the Old Boys Association Golden Jubilee Meeting at the School ground at which I was visiting as Head of State, the meeting in their wisdom decided to adopt BAREWA as the new and permanent name for the school, and so it has remained to date and for the future. The name BAREWA was derived from the school badge/emblem of a leaping Gazelle with a BAREWA school motto in Arabic – “Manjadda Wajadda”, meaning “He who tries succeeds and leaping into progress”.
Development
The school has had a chequered history of development from a humble low number entry to, at various times a vastly expanded bustling institution. The school taught the boys well in character and learning that helped them over the years make sterling contribution to the progress and development of their Region, States and the Nation at large. It had produced leaders in practically every facet of our life, in politics and leadership, governance, economics and finance, education, science and technology, defence and security and many other areas of human endeavour. I do not wish to subject you to a roll-call of BAREWA OLD BOYS achievers WHO’S WHO, but allow me to mention just a few and to recognise all others just in memoriam.
Honours list past and present
At the National/Federal level, in politics and Governance, the prominent names are: Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Nigerias most able first and only Prime Minister, brutally killed in the first Coups in Nigeria in January, 1966, followed by General Dr. Yakubu Gowon; General Murtala Mohammed; Alhaji Shehu Shagari; and Dr. Umaru Musa Yar’Adua; At Regional/State level, Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, first and only Premier of Northern Region, brutally killed on January, 1966; General Hassan Usman Katsina, Governor and Governor of Governors (military); several military Governors – Brig-Gen. Abba Kyari; CP Usman Farouk; Col. David Bamigboye; Justices/Jurist: Justice Mohammed Bello, CJN; Justice Muhammadu Lawal Uwais; Justice Muhammed Nasir; Justice Buba Hardo; Justice Umaru Kalgo, CJN to name a few. In Education – Prof. Iya Buba Belel Abubakar – VC, ABU; Prof. Ango Abdullahi VC; Prof. Mahdi Adamu VC, Sokoto; in Administration – Late Ali Akilu – SRG, Kaduna; Mr. Sunday Awoniyi; Mallam Adamu Fika; Mallam Saidu Gwarzo; Ministers – Alh. Maitama Sule; Abba Baba Gana, FCT; Banking and Finance: Aliyu Mai Borno, CBN; Alh. Abdullahi Ahmed; Mr. Silas Daniya; Journalism: Mallam Adamu Chiroma; Liman Chiroma; Abukabar Imam GaskiyaTafi Kobo. International Organisation – World Meteorology: Dr. Godwin Abasi; Traditional Institution – H.E. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar –Sultan of Sokoto; Late Umaru Ndayako – Etsu Nupe; Alh. Sule Adamu (Tiya) Bauchi; Ibrahim Dasuki – Sultan of Sokoto; Defence/Military: Brig. Zakariya Mai Malari; Col. Kur Mohammed; Lt. Col. Abogo Largema; Lt. Col. James Yakubu Pam; All killed 15 January, 1966. All others deserving of mention, and there are many of you here, please pardon me and accept my apology. You are all recognised and appreciated. For a more details and authentic presentation of this, I refer you to BOBA information flyer of February, 2018, 5th edition and to add that every BOBA person had made one contribution or the other, to their community, province, region, state or the Nation as a whole.
From the foregoing, it can be seen that Barewa College Alumni have been closely working together and alongside their other colleagues from the region/state and nationally for the development and progress of their regions, states and Nation, and did achieve an appreciable success. But it had also suffered some undeserving neglect and deprivation. The college had expanded haphazardly beyond the limit the infrastructure could bear. It was labelled an elitist school for the rich and famous and unfortunately, the authorities at the time succumbed to it and gave vent to diluting the college former high academic standard that led to a fall in the quality and high standard the college is known for. Graciously, with a change of leadership and upgrade of the teaching staff and facilities, it has gradually improved to an acceptable standard.
However, more efforts and hard work is required to get the college back to its former past glory. What is urgently required today is commitment by all the 19 Northern States to be responsible for the upkeep of the college, paying equally or proportionately to the number of students sent to the college. This treatment should also apply to sister college, Government College Keffi founded in 1949 and temporarily located in Kaduna before it was moved to its permanent home Keffi, in today’s Nasarawa State. Government College, Keffi was meant to further augment Barewa College effort in producing high level manpower for the Northern Provinces, functions it duely fulfilled in subsequent years. Another suggestion is to recommend to the Federal Government to take it over as an additional Special Unity School as Kings College, Lagos. The essence of all the above is the realization that indeed good and sound education creates peace, unity, security, prosperity and generally for the society; values most desirable today and always.
Threats to education
For some years now, Nigeria and particularly the Northern states of the country are experiencing and facing serious security problems and threat to Education through the hostile and nihilistic activities of Boko Haram and lately Banditry for ransom, and the Herdsmen – Farmers’ incidences nationwide that had threatened the much desired peace and tranquility necessary for any meaningful development and progress in our country and nation. These crises situation must be ruthlessly dealt with by the government’s security forces and all. BOBANS/YAN BAREWA must be involved and committed in dealing with this evil creating havoc in our midst and today threatening the peace, law and order and development in the country. It gives the Northern States and all who come from there a bad name and image. I believe the collective wisdom of BOBA members, of various backgrounds, from their various locations, can make a positive contribution in dealing with this matter and help to make the Northern States secure, united, peaceful and prosperous; a place promoting scholarship, business, tourism, industry, agriculture, live-stock production, ranching, trade and health. BOBANS/YAN BAREWA, I call on your sense of patriotism to help the Nation find a solution and attain this essential objective.
Now, about the future
BOBA as an NGO has remained in public consciousness of Nigerians, particularly the people of all the states in the North of Nigeria since its inception 50 years ago despite the loss of both her political and military leaderships, all BOBANS in January 15, 1966 putsch. BOBA had done very well in highlighting the great contributions of former BAREWA College students had made to the unity and development of not only the Northern States of Nigeria, but also that of the whole of Nigeria. Barewa has a great past built on unity, honesty, sincerity of purpose, work and worship, pursuit of truth, transparency, accountability, justice and fairness, loving your neighbour as yourself and being your brothers/Sisters keeper. There is an urgent need to get the younger members of BOBA, especially the under 40-50s, interested in the affairs and activities of the Association as there is an appalling ignorance of the Association by that group. The National Executive Committee (NEC) and the Secretariat should look into this. BOBA should also be concerned about the future and fortunes of the ordinary people of the 19 Northern States where the World Bank disclosed that 87% of the poverty incidence in Nigeria is found in the 19 Northern States. This is food for thought for us attending this occasion today – especially – the Executives/Governors/Local Government Council here.
The future as it touches on national question/s
On the Centenary of Barewa College, it is also very important to re-examine National Question or Questions, that asks, what is the future of the peoples of the former 19 Northern States within a United Nigerian Federation in the light of what is going on now: the security problems – Boko Haram, Banditry and Herdsmen-Farmers imbroglio and the political agitation and concerns of various ethnic groups – 517. The Ethnic Nationalities are requesting for fundamental changes in the question of re-structuring and the way Nigeria is governed and ruled. All sorts and various permutations and combinations have been proposed and talked about for sometimes now, and many restructuring had taken place in Nigeria Nationally or Regionally/State wise since Lugard’s Restructuring in the 1914 Amalgamation of North and South Nigeria; the various Regional and States Legislative restructuring through to regional and states elections in 1954 and 59; to Nigerias National Elections and Independence in 1960. In 1963, there was restructuring that created Mid-West as 4th Region of Nigeria’s Federation and a change from Parliamentary to a Republican (US) type Constitution followed 3 years later by the 1966 Coups that ushered in Military Government – Federal/Regional – Unitary and later briefly changed to a Federation of Group of Provinces, later restored back to Federation of four (4) Regions. Finally, as a result of threat to a breakup of the country, the country was structured into 12 States and subsequently to 19 States and ultimately to 36 States and FCT. Therefore, restructuring is not a new thing, and it seem major restructuring comes round every 50 years. Of particular interest and note is the 2005 Political Reforms Conference and the 2014 Constitutional Review Conference and others being put forward by various interest groups.
The diverse people of the former Northern Nigeria who were previously put together by geography, history and dialectics of big power imperialism are now facing their future as 19 self-governing independent states along with other 17 states within the Federal Republic of Nigeria. They are now both tested and passing through unprecedented internal security crisis of all sorts, they have also become the poverty capital of the world according to the World Bank, who reported that 87% of poverty incidence in Nigeria is in the 19 Northern States of Nigeria.
As a group of people from the 19 Northern States, trying hard to find solutions to our serious internal security crisis, we also have poverty and other socio-economic issues demanding our attention. While we are on these existential matters, the drumbeats of Restructuring are sounding loud and disturbing our peace of mind. The diverse people of the 19 Northern States must decide on what type of restructuring best serve their interest. The future we are facing depends on this matter. As things are now, restructuring definitely means different things to different people, living in different regions or geopolitical zones of the country. We must therefore decide whatever type of Restructuring we want, not as one entity as former Northern region, but as people of 19 Independent/self-government sates brought together by geography history economy, culture, market, biodiversity, good neighbourliness with shared values and interests.
This means that we must make among other things realistic political and economic choices as well as existential choices. It is said, politics is the art of the possible, so as things are the only homogenous geographical zones in Nigeria are, the South-East Zone, South-West Zone, North-West Zone but for areas of southern Kaduna. The remaining 3 political Zones – South-South Zone, North-East Zones and North-Central Zone are ethically so diverse that their people would certainly not sacrifice their current/present self-governing status symbolised by their State government for anything else. Therefore, the question of Nigeria becoming 6-8 regions Federation as canvassed by some groups causes a serious problem and may be difficult to achieve in a truly democratic circumstance and processes
I understand that at a recent Restructuring debate organised and published by a Media House and Newspaper, it clearly shows that the retention of the 36 States and 774 LGAs Structure for the Nigerian Federation was preferred by the vast majority of participants at the debate. This proposal is being recommended by BOBA to the 19 Northern States, but opens to discussion with other groups. Also recommended is the devolution of some function powers of the Federal Government in the Exclusive List of the 1999 Constitution as amended, to the States/LGAs. A new Revenue Allocation Formula is also being recommended in favour of the States/LGAs to reflect this additional responsibility. Again, for the sake of justice and fairness, and political stability of the Federal States, the possibility and necessity for a Rotational Presidency is also recommended for acceptance by the 19 Northern States and that the Rotation will be among the existing 6 geo-political zones and two (2) Vice Presidents, one from the same zone as the President and to be provided for in the coming Constitutional Amendments. Also rotation of the position of the Governor among the 3 Senatorial Districts of every State be considered and provided for in the Constitution. This would reduce further requests for creating more States and crises of marginalisation.
As the local governments are the tier of government closest to the people, they must be provided for in our constitution as presently done. The 36 States are known by their members of LGAs. Also, electoral constituencies for States House of Assembly, House of Representatives and Senatorial districts are all determined by the number and size and population of LGAs. Therefore, LGAs must be given proper identity, independence and stability of their existence as statutory bodies. However, I believed that there should be a restricted supervisory role by the State Governor, this should be carefully discussed at appropriate level and nationally agreed to. However, it is better to have a uniform Local Government Administration system, as now obtained. For LGAs to be effective, it must have full autonomy and have uniform standards of operation. Any contemplation to scrap LGAs should be voided at all cost.
BOBA note and is aware that, all Federal system in the world, in every country, it is the people who evolve the structure and institutions in their country to suit, or according to their different and peculiar ways. Therefore, every or all Federal countries design their structures and institutions to suit their peculiar, historical, political, social and economic development needs and circumstances. So there is simply no one standard Federal or type that fits all, and universally applied or acceptable. USA, UK, France, Germany, India and all are known as democracies and are accepted as such – democratic countries despite the differences in their system. Therefore, Nigeria it is time we reflect and put on our thinking cap and do what is good for all the people of Nigeria – our beloved country.
Nigeria our rapidly and fast developing country of more than two hundred million (200, 000,000) people, in spite of all our present difficulties and challenges, has a great future and also high position, respect and influence in the whole world. We enjoy the largest market in Africa and this is a great advantage if wisely managed. And as things are now, no ethnic group is better off outside Nigeria than inside Nigeria. And also in this uncertain world there is safety in numbers, check with the Chinese and Indians. Therefore, let us all renew our resolve to keep Nigeria one and united for the sake of future generations of Nigerians and all black people of the world. I believe we of BOBA – BOBANS – YAN BAREWA should and other great and patriotic Nigerians to keep Nigeria one and united.
Happy Centenary – BAREWA COLLEGE, CONGRATULATIONS BOBA.
General Gowon (B783), former Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, 1966-75, is chairman of the BOBA Board of Trustees.
