Gov. Assures Yoruba Community of Continued Support, Inclusion
Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has said the relationship between Katsina and the Southwest runs deep in Nigeria’s political history, assuring the Yoruba community in the state of continued support, inclusion and protection.
A statement signed by Ibrahim kaula Mohammad chief press secretary to the Governor said Governor Radda stated this on Thursday when he received the Yoruba Community Council, Katsina State Chapter, led by its Chairman, Abdulrazaq Abbas Olukolu, on a courtesy visit at the Red Chamber, Muhammadu Buhari House, Katsina.
The Governor said the relationship between Katsina and the Yoruba people extended beyond ethnicity, language and geography, stressing that both sides shared longstanding historical, cultural, traditional and religious ties.
He said the relationship had also been reflected in Nigeria’s political history, where leaders from Katsina and the Southwest had worked together in advancing the country.
Governor Radda cited the relationship between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua as an example of national bonds that transcended ethnic and regional boundaries.
According to him, Nigeria’s political history had shown that mutual understanding and cooperation among different regions remained essential to national unity and stability.
The Governor said his administration would continue to promote an inclusive environment where residents from different parts of the country could live, work and contribute to Katsina’s development.
“I do not particularly like the expression ‘non-indigenous’ when it is used to describe people who have lived in a place for decades and contributed to its development,” Governor Radda said.
He noted that migration and inter-community relations had always been part of Nigeria’s history, adding that many Nigerians had ancestral connections to places different from where they currently lived.
“If somebody has lived in a place for 40 or more years and somebody still looks at him and says, ‘You are a non-indigene,’ I think we should also ask: who is truly an indigene?” he asked.
Governor Radda stressed that ethnic, linguistic and cultural differences should not undermine the country’s shared identity.
“We are all Nigerians, and we should continue to see ourselves as one people,” he said.
He also stressed the need to expose younger generations to Nigeria’s cultural diversity, saying interaction among different communities would promote understanding and mutual respect.
The Governor commended the Yoruba community for its support for his administration and its contributions to Katsina State.
He assured the community that his administration would continue to support and protect residents, irrespective of their ethnic or geographical backgrounds.
Governor Radda also urged the Yoruba community to sustain its support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying collective efforts were needed to advance national development.
He expressed confidence that the relationship between Katsina and the Yoruba community would continue to deepen, urging residents to work together for peace, development and national unity.
“We will continue to support one another. We will continue to protect the lives and property of the people living in the state as much as we can,” he said.
The Governor added that the people of Katsina and their Yoruba counterparts had a shared responsibility to contribute to a stronger Nigeria.
“Let us work together to build a better Nigeria, a better Katsina and a better future for all our people,” Governor Radda said.
Earlier, Chairman of the Yoruba Community Council, Abdulrazaq Abbas Olukolu, thanked Governor Radda for receiving the delegation and for the hospitality extended to members of the community.
Olukolu said the visit was aimed at strengthening the relationship between the Yoruba community and the Katsina State Government.
He commended the Governor’s inclusive approach to governance, particularly the opportunities given to people from different parts of the country to contribute to the development of the state.
The Chairman said the inclusion of Yoruba community members in government and public service had strengthened their sense of belonging.
“This has encouraged our people to contribute even more to the development and progress of Katsina State,” Olukolu said.
He assured the Governor of the community’s continued cooperation and support, stressing that its members would remain committed to peaceful coexistence and the development of the state.
Olukolu also expressed the community’s support for President Tinubu and his administration’s efforts towards national development, peace and unity.
The courtesy visit was attended by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon. Abdulkadir Mamman Nasir; members of the Katsina State Executive Council; government officials; Special Advisers to the Governor on Non-Indigenous Affairs; and leaders and members of the Yoruba Community Council.
