Ambassador Sani Bako has stepped down from his honorary role as Jakadan Galadiman Katsina, following a formal query from the Galadiman Katsina’s palace over his involvement in a recent security meeting held in Abuja.
The meeting, which focused on terrorist activities in Katsina State, drew concern from stakeholders in Katsina State after details from the gathering were widely circulated on social media.
In a letter dated September 4, Ambassador Bako announced his resignation, saying: “I am relinquishing this title of Jakadan Galadiman Katsina. I am very happy with the opportunity given to me to be amidst the circle of the Palace of Galadiman Katsina, even though I never had any lineage to the royal family.”
SPONSOR AD
He expressed gratitude to the late Justice Mamman Nasir, former Galadiman Katsina, for granting him the honorary title, and pledged to continue contributing to the development of Malumfashi, Katsina State, and Nigeria at large.
The resignation followed a letter from the Palace, signed by the Secretary to the Galadiman Katsina, querying Ambassador Bako over the source and accuracy of information shared from the Abuja meeting.
“Based on a meeting you held in Abuja on the terrorists’ activities in Katsina State which was disseminated through social media, the Palace of the Galadiman of Katsina seeks clarification from you on the processes you used to obtain the information you disseminated.
“And as a representative of the Palace, you did not contact the Palace to obtain accurate information,” the letter read.
In his response, Ambassador Bako clarified that while his name appeared in documents circulated from the meeting, he was not responsible for compiling or releasing the information.
“It is not my responsibility to seek data or anything like that. Therefore, in reality, I have no knowledge of this matter. This is a separate committee,” he explained.
“I did not write this document that was circulated in the media. My name is included here for those who will seek more information at the meeting,” he added.
He further recalled that the group, known as the Katsina Security Community Initiative, had planned to visit the Emir and Galadiman in Katsina to discuss the security situation, but the meeting did not hold.
“We tried to visit His Majesty, the Emir of Katsina, but we were told that he was in Abuja. As we were preparing to go to His Excellency the Galadiman of Katsina, I was told that there was a letter sent to me from your palace,” he said.
Ambassador Bako reaffirmed his commitment to public service.
“I apologise to His Excellency Galadiman Katsina. I took a pledge that I will undertake any good work that will bring development to Malumfashi, Katsina State, and the entire country, until God decrees His will on my life,” he said.
Background
Earlier in August, indigenes of Katsina State, under the banner of the Katsina Security Community Initiative (KSCI), met in Abuja, where they called on the federal and state governments to adopt a new strategy to end the scourge of banditry in the state.
The coordinator of KSCI, Dr. Bashir Kurfi, said the unabating killings and kidnappings prove that current strategies have failed to curtail banditry in the state.
The meeting was attended by retired and serving security personnel, including military generals, police and paramilitary agencies’ officers, anti-graft officials, civil servants, academics, and government representatives at both local and state levels who reside in Abuja.
Another security meeting held in Katsina last week was disrupted by a group of men and youths suspected to be thugs shortly after it began.
The meeting, which was organised by KSCI, was aimed at finding a solution to the insecurity bedevilling the state.