Daga Musa Azare

THE ACTUALIZATION OF AMINU SALEH COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, AZARE:APPRECIATIONI want to begin with a historical background of the struggle that led to the immortalizationof the late Wambam Katagum, Alhaji Aminu Saleh, CFR, GCON.It all started on the 13th day of August, 2015 when ace writer, social critic and erudite scholar, late Malam Aminu Azare (Rahimahullah),a brother and bosom friend of mine, and,Sadiq Ali, an equally bosom friend of mine sat in Azare, Katagum LGA of Bauchi and conceived the idea of getting a befitting monument in honour of the late Wambam Katagum, Alhaji Aminu Saleh.Having spent the better part of his life promoting education -from the establishment of Sheikh Adam Islamiyya School, toGwani Alagoni Islamiyya School to Yankari Academy, to the sponsorship of outstanding students to further their education, late Aminu Saleh has no equal in this regard throughout the length and breadth of Bauchi State, hence, the idea of renaming College of Education, Azare to his name was considered most befitting.The duo of Malam Aminu Azare and Sadiq Ali immediately formed a committee and named it the "COMMITTEE FOR THE IMMORTALIZATIONOF FORMER SGF, LATE ALH. AMINU SALEH, CFR (WAMBAM KATAGUM)", with Aminu and Sadiq as Chairman and Secretary, respectively. They coopted like minds from among our contemporaries.On 17th August, 2015, with little input from me, and one of the most patriotic young men in Katagum, in person of ComradeAdamu Bello, Aminu and Sadiq wrote a letter to the Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Damina Shehu Kawuwa and requested for the immortalizationof the late sage. Aminu and Sadiq also in their letter requested to have audience with the Hon Speaker, which was granted to them via a letter dated 24th August, 2015.Late Wambai was a national figure who paid his dues to the Nigerian nation first, as Treasurer, Katagum Native Authority; then Director and later Permanent Secretary in thefederal civil service; then Head of Service of the Federation; a Minister; and retired as Secretary to the Government of theFederation, SGF.Today I received the exciting news that the government of Bauchi State has approved the State House of Assembly Resolution passed at its sitting No. 086 held on 2nd December, 2015, which officially changed the name of College of Education, Azare to Aminu Saleh College of Education, Azare.Sadly, Malam Aminu Azare, who was at the time of the struggle suffering from a terminal illness, cancer to be precise, could not survive to see the actualization of his dream, for he gave up this world on the 12th day of January, 2016. May his gentle soul rest in Jannatul Firdaus. Ameen.Today I am profusely shedding tears of joy and sorrow! Tears of joy, seeing the immortalizationof one of the greatest mentors of all time, and the actualization of the dream of my late friend. Tears of sorrow, that this dream became reality at a time when the dreamer is no more!My profound appreciation, albeit posthumously, to the legendary critic and ace commentator, Malam Aminu Azare. And to Sadiq, I say a big congratulationsfor this feat. You and Aminu will go down in history as patriotic young men and progressives of note. To my junior brother Comrade Adamu Bello, (whom I personally mentored, "chuckles"), I say a big congratulationsto you too. You're exceptionally different in your commitment to the general welfare of Katagumites. To my good friend Malam.Inuwa Adamu Umar, who took so much trouble to shuttle betweenAzare and Bauchi to deliver the request letter, I say thank you. To the rest of the team, I give you a double thumbs up!Special thanks to HonTijjani Mohammed Aliyu, Member representing Azare/Madangala State Constituency in the Bauchi State House of Assembly. He moved the motion for the immortalizationon the floor of the House, and facilitatedin no small measure the consideration of the request and booked the appointment for the Committee to meet with the Hon Speaker. Thank you my big brother! Your efforts are deeply appreciated.To Rt Hon. Damina Shehu Kawuwa, the Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, words cannot express myappreciation of your consideration of our request to immortalize late Wambam Katagum. Thank you Mr. SpeakerSir! And to all members of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, I say a big thank you. May you all receive Allah's guidance in the discharge of your duties. Allah Yasa ku gama lafiya.Finally, the biggest one! Our own Makama Babba Na Farko of Bauchi and the Executive Governor of Bauchi State, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, Esq, I salute you today, Sir!And I will like to put a personal request to you, Your Excellency Sir, IMMORTALIZE Malam Aminu Azare before you finish your tenure as governor of our d[truncated by WhatsApp]