By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
Bauchi State Governor, Sen Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has hailed the zeal and determination of founding fathers and actors of the actualization of the creation of the old Bauchi State in 1976.
The Governor also stated that the attainment of 50 years of existence by the State out of which Gombe State was created in 1996—is a profound cause for joy and thanksgiving to Almighty God.
The Governor made the assertion in a statewide broadcast on the ocassion of the celebration of 50th anniversary of the creation of Bauchi State on 3rd February, 2026.
The Governor stated, “Today, I speak to you with a heart filled with gratitude, pride, and responsibility as we mark the 50th Anniversary of the creation of our dear State. This Golden Jubilee is a defining moment in our history , one that calls for reflection on our journey, appreciation of our sacrifices, and renewed commitment to our collective future.”
Going down memory lane, he stated, “On the 3rd of February, 1976, the late General Murtala Ramat Mohammed, of blessed memory, announced the creation of Bauchi State alongside six others from the defunct North-East State.”
According to him, “He did not live long to witness the growth of the states he courageously brought into existence, having been assassinated ten days later. On this solemn occasion, we pray that Almighty God grants his soul eternal rest and rewards his courage and sacrifice.”
According to him, “Despite political, economic, and social challenges, Bauchi State has endured and progressed. Indeed, the survival and steady growth of a geopolitical entity for fifty years is a remarkable achievement worthy of celebration and reflection.”
Bala Mohammed added that, ‘The take-off and sustained existence of Bauchi State since 1976 were made possible through the vision and sacrifice of our founding fathers. These patriots laid the solid foundations of governance, unity, and development upon which our State stands today. We honour their legacy and pray that Almighty God grants eternal rest to those who have returned to our Creator.”
He added, “We also acknowledge the immense contributions of leaders who served Bauchi State as Military and Civilian Governors, beginning with Colonel Muhammad Bello Kaliel, the first military Governor, and Alhaji Abubakar Tatari Ali, the first democratically elected Governor.”
“Among the other Chief Executives of the State were the late General Garba Duba, late Major General Muhammad Sani Sami, Major General Chris Abutu Garuba, late Major General Joshua Madaki, late Colonel Abu Ali, late Alhaji Dahiru Mohammed, Late Wing Commander James Yana Kalau, Navy Captain Adisa Raji, Colonel Theophilus Bamigboye, Wing Commander Adamu Mishelia, Alhaji Ahmed Adamu Mu’azu, Malam Isa Yuguda and Barrister Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar,r,” he added.
The Governor further stated that, “Each administration, in its own way, contributed to the growth, stability, and continuity of Bauchi State. We remain grateful to all of them, living and deceased, and pray that Almighty God rewards their service.”
According to him, “Since its creation, Bauchi State has recorded notable progress in education, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture, water supply, and security. The establishment of schools and colleges, universities, polytechnics, primary healthcare facilities and general hospitals across wards and Local Government Areas, improved road networks, and sustained investment in agriculture reflect decades of collective effort and resilience, even in the face of significant challenges.”
He also stated that, “I must emphasize that our collective efforts in the area of security, collaborating with security agencies to protect the lives and property of the citizens, had provided the basis for our sustained peace and development.”
According to him, “These milestones would not have been possible without the sacrifices of leaders in the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary, as well as the dedication of civil servants, traditional and religious institutions, professionals, farmers, traders, women, youths, and the private sector. Bauchi State is, no doubt, a product of shared responsibility. While we honour the past, the present generation must take this Golden Jubilee as a challenge to work harder.”
“The State is no doubt blessed with abundant potentials upon which the present Government has focused much attention and which we must adequately harness. Bauchi State occupies a total land area of 49,549 square kilometres representing about 5.3% of Nigeria’s total land mass,” he added.
The Governor stressed that, “In terms of vision, by the year 2033 Bauchi State seeks to become the leading economy in the North-East region and one of the top 10 most economically and socially developed states in the country. This vision of the state is meant to invent a better future for the people of the state by building a secure, prosperous and inclusive society, within the next 10 years and even beyond.”
He also stated that, “We intend to achieve boundless opportunities for growth and development in Bauchi State through the active collaboration between developed human capital, efficient state governance, private sector and development partners.”
He also stated that, “In line with the above mission, the State aims to use the vast human, natural and man-made resources of the state to create wealth and ensure the well-being of the people through structural transformation of the economy in an all-inclusive manner, by using a consultative and participatory process to achieve a better life for all Bauchi citizens.”
Bala Mohammed stressed also that,”The focus of the Plan is such that the sectors are prioritized and grouped within the 12-clusters of our Administration’s economic blueprint: Agriculture and Food Security, Education, Health, Infrastructure, Security of Lives and Property, Environment, Tourism, Information and Communications Technology, Housing, Private Sector, Regional Collaboration, and General Administration.”
Furthermore, the Governor stated that, The planning process is guided by government priorities and community input. Implementation involves investing in key sectors, with a focus on funding strategies. Monitoring and evaluation are crucial for budget programming. Our planning and budgeting process reflects a systems approach.”
“It is therefore important that as we look into the achievements of the past 50 years, we must also look into the future with optimism guided by a planned, organized and systematic arrangement as manifested in our Perspective Plan,” he added.
He explained that,”As part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations, a programme of events under the theme “Honouring the Past, Building the Future” have been carefully designed to reflect our faith, culture, heritage, and shared aspirations.”
The event include: Special Juma’at Prayers and Interdenominational Church Service, Commemorative Anniversary Tree Planting Exercise at the Golden Jubilee Unity Park, Anniversary Public Lecture and Panel Discussion to share insights into our trajectory of development and the vision for the future, Mini-Durbar and Cultural Displays; and Gala Night and Awards Presentation as a practical demonstration of appreciation and gratitude to the founding fathers and other leaders who in one way or the other contributed to bringing Bauchi State to where it is today.
He stressed that, “These activities underscore that this anniversary is not a partisan celebration, but a solemn moment of reflection on the journey so far and the journey ahead.”
The Governor added, “I therefore call on all citizens of Bauchi State to emulate the sacrifice, discipline, and commitment of our founding fathers. The progress of Bauchi State in the 21st Century will be determined by the quality of our leadership and the sense of responsibility of our citizens.’
Bala Mohammed added, “As a Government, we remain committed to building solid foundations that will outlive all of us, in line with our Economic Blueprint “My Bauchi Project” and our Development Agenda as encapsulated in our Development Plan.”
He thankrd all those who have sent congratulatory messages and those who have taken time out of their busy schedules to join us in celebrating this historic milestone.
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