ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY ARC MOHAMMED NAMADI SAMBO, fnia, ON THE OCCASION OF THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION OF KADUNA AS CAPITAL CITY AT THE AREWA HOUSE AUDITORIUM, KADUNA ON SATURDAY 31^ST MAY, 2008

PROTOCOL

I am very pleased to welcome you all to this great, unique and memorable town of Kaduna on the occasion of its Centenary Celebration as a Capital City organized by the Kaduna State Government. We most sincerely thank the merciful God for preserving our lives to witness this celebration. This occasion is great and unique because it is an event that will only take the grace of God for even a child born today to witness.

Coincidentally, this event coming at a time when we are just celebrating our First Year Anniversary as a Government, is a moment that gives us the opportunity to reflect on our vision and to re-strengthen our resolve to make lives of our people better and happier, while our nascent democracy more concrete and result-oriented. Hence our commitment is for total transformation.

Your presence this afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen, is a clear indication of your concern for Kaduna State, the North and our dear country, which we appreciate most sincerely. The establishment of Kaduna as a Capital City is unique in the history of the formation of urban settlements in the Sub-Saharan Africa during Colonial period. looking back at history, especially when the West African Frontier Force (WAFF) was established, a suitable headquarter became also desirable for effective military activities of the British Colonial Masters as well as for the expected new Colonial Administration in this part of the country. When Lokoja was first made the Capital of both the West African Frontier Force (WAFF) and the British Administration of the Protectorate of Northern Nigeria which was later moved briefly to Wushishi and Zungeru, there were lots of strategic dissatisfactions with these capitals especially in the impending attacks of Kano and then Sokoto the headquarters of the Caliphate and other strategic parts of Northern Nigeria. It was this kind of strategic thinking among others that made visionary leaders in the recent past to decide for a new capital for Nigeria in Abuja.

It may interest you to know that Kaduna is one of the few cities in Nigeria established as a Capital City during the Colonial period and has remained so till date.

First as the headquarters of the West African Frontier Forces during the conquest of Northern Nigeria in 1907 and then the Capital of the defunct Northern Nigerian Protectorate from 1913-1957. When the Macperson's Constitution introduced the Regional Government from 1957-1967 and then later the 12 States were created in 1967, Kaduna remains as the Capital of the North-Central State until 1975.

Following the renaming of the North-Central State by the late General Murtala Mohammed's Regime as Kaduna State (comprising of the defunct Zaria and Katsina Provinces in 1975 Kaduna still remained the State's capital. Since the creation of Katsina State out of the then Kaduna State, Kaduna has been the Capital City of Kaduna State.

One important and unique feature of Kaduna is that unlike in other urban places where British settlement patterns were segregated in terms of Ethnic and professional dichotomy, Kaduna had no such experience and the Government and people of the State are  committed to making the State the home of every peace loving individual or group.

It is equally interesting to note that having been established first as a capital in 1907 to serve certain strategic purposes, Kaduna has consistently and persistently remained what it was established to serve for 100 years now. Furthermore, it was from Kaduna that all the States in this part of the country sprang from.

At all times that Kaduna is mentioned, a lot of things come to mind.

Whatever others may feel about it, Kaduna is a mini-Nigeria in terms of its composition and diversity; hence it wasn't for nothing that many view it as the symbol of the North and the Mother of Capitals.

We have since put away our previous experiences behind and have introduced deliberate policies and programmes and are committed toward fairness to all and sundry as well as charting the right course for the collective good of our dear people. We are committed to doing more

There are a lot of things we have to learn from the history of Kaduna, 100 years after, Kaduna is in need of a new Plan. That is why we have engaged the services of those that designed the first Master Plan to see how we can make Kaduna a city of the 21^st Century.

To complement the developmental efforts of our past leaders in the State, we are determined to ensure security, provide free and compulsory primary education and the general improvement of the education sector, intensifying agricultural development, ensure poverty elimination through empowerment of our women and youths that constitute the vulnerable population, intensify infrastructural development and improvement of our healthcare delivery system, provide additional power supply through the Kaduna State Power Agency and encourage and cultivate entrepreneurs  to form cottage industries for our industrial growth.

Furthermore, we hope to provide affordable housing for all with particular emphasis on low income earners and Civil Servants. We aim to transform our rural areas to modern standards and continue to take care of our workers and pensioners through improved welfare packages that are motivational

When the great legal mind and a statesman Dr Akinola Aguda was appointed as the chairman of the selection of a suitable site to host the Federal Capital City, one of the cities so considered amongst others was Kaduna. This was because of its strategic placement and proximity. This has   catapulted it as one of the fast growing satellite towns that can provide alternative services to the FCT residents.

Kaduna City is therefore a watershed in the history of Nigeria. Hardly can any three towns be mentioned without Kaduna's name featuring. This is because of its very many attributes. Its nearness to the Federal Capital has place it as one of the fast growing satellite towns that workers in the  FCT can count on as their second home.

Inspite of the loss of its previous aesthetics due to emerging trends in development, it still retain its symbolism that has always been its trademark. But for our past leaders that laid a solid foundation for its future, the level of advancement so witnessed will have evaporated.

But while we are doing this, the challenge to every democratic system is to ensure fair developmental patterns between the urban and rural areas. to make concrete our resolve to make Nigeria one of the Developed Economies by the 2020 as is the vision of our dynamic Leader and President Alh Umaru Musa Yar'adua (GCFR). In this manner, one would only have to agree with the opinion that the Electorate deserves more attention and support as we are resolved to.

Celebrating the Mother of Capitals will therefore help in providing for the first time, a comprehensive text of the history of developments in Kaduna in the past 100 years, certainly not from the official point of view, but from the views of this dynamic scholars and administrators. I have already directed the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, which in conjunction with the consultant this conference was initiated in the first place to immediately commence the process of publishing the proceedings so that in a few months time, we will still invite you for its presentation to the public.

I wish on behalf of the people of Kaduna State to thank those who have contributed in one way or the other to the development of Kaduna City and indeed the State in general. I wish to particularly appreciate all those who have served at the helm of affairs in Sir Kashim Ibrahim House. Particular mention should be made to our oldest surviving colleague, Brigadier Abba Kyari who is the Chairman of this Occasion and who served as Governor when it was North-Central State. The State Government in appreciation of his contribution then and today will immortalize him as well as other   past Governors. Similarly, to commemorate this occasion, we shall rename an important road/street WAFF (West African Frontier Force) road; the very first evidence of the establishment of Kaduna as a Capital City.

Finally, let me use this opportunity to sincerely thank your Excellencies but especially Mr. President and our Commander-in-Chief, Alh . Umaru Musa Yar'adua (GCFR) for honouring our invitation despite other pressing official engagements.

Your Excellencies, distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, you are all welcome to this great and memorable occasion we wish you a successful stay in the mother of all capitals.

Thank you.

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