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The Yusufu Bala-Usman Institute, Zaria, Kaduna State, on Monday urged state governments to intensify efforts in initiating policies and programmes that would assist in alleviating citizens’ hardships and moving their states to greater heights.
A representative of the institute, Mr Sani Ibrahim, made the call in Katsina, at a lecture titled “19 Years after Dr Yusufu Bala-Usman: His Contributions to the Development of Politics and History of Katsina.”
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the lecture was organised by the State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists.
Ibrahim observed that the late Bala-Usman’s progressive ideas and theories, if applied, could assist to yield positive results to the development of the country in general.
“Dr. Yusufu Bala-Usman, as a historian, progressive intellectual, political activist, partisan politician and Pan Africanist, made a significant contribution to the liberation movement and unity of Africa, Nigeria and Katsina.
“His focus was fighting injustice, fighting for good governance and advocating for the liberation of Nigeria and other African countries from the bonds of colonialism, neo-colonialism and western imperialism,” he said.
Ibrahim further said that the late Bala-Usman meticulously compiled the history of Katsina, from 1400 to 1883, including its economic and political transformation and its relation with other Hausa states.
According to him, Bala-Usman founded the Centre for Democratic Development, Research and Training that conducts research and seminars aimed at the development of society.
Ibrahim revealed that the late Bala-Usman always sided with the oppressed masses in his fight against oppression.
“That was why he became actively involved in politics, especially during the second republic.
“He served as a Research Director of one of the most progressive political parties in Nigerian political history, the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP),” he said.
He explained that when the PRP won the governorship election in Kaduna State in 1979, the then Governor, late Alhaji Abdulkadir Balarabe-Musa appointed him as the Secretary to the Government.
Ibrahim added that a lot of progress was made with the contributions of Bala-Usman.
“That time, the government laid the foundation of industrialisation of the state by setting up an industry in every local government.
“Starch and derivatives industry was set up in Malumfashi, Agro- Industry in Kaduna, flour Mills in Mani, Daura Tanners, Kankia Nails/Metal, Katsina Dairy, Ikara Food Processing, Funtua Bricks works and Zaria Pharmaceuticals,” he said.
NAN reports that almost all those industries are now moribund, some of them located in the current Kaduna State, while others are in Katsina State.
(NAN)
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