Elder statesman and former Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Prof. Ango Abdullahi, has expressed concern over what he described as the erosion of values and leadership in Northern Nigeria, stating that the region’s current challenges largely stem from abandoning the principles of its founding leaders.

He made this known at the third edition of the Late Gen. Hassan Usman Katsina Memorial Conference, held at Arewa House in Kaduna on Saturday.

The conference was themed: “From Sacrifice to Strategy: Rekindling Gen. Hassan Usman Katsina’s Vision for a Prosperous Northern Nigeria.”

According to Abdullahi, the North has deviated from the values handed down by its parents and pioneer leaders, insisting that the region’s stagnation is a result of moral and leadership failure rather than a lack of physical development.

“The North has lost its values. You may not want to hear this, but that is the reality today. If we had preserved the values inherited from our parents and pioneer leaders, the North would not be in its current state,” he said.

He noted that while many Northern cities have expanded physically, the virtues of discipline, honesty, sacrifice and selfless leadership that once defined the region have steadily declined.

“The North is in a difficult situation. For me, that is the primary reason for its stagnation. The buildings you see are not the issue. The real problem is the loss of our values,” he added.

Abdullahi urged leaders in the region to emulate the late Gen. Hassan Usman Katsina, whom he described as a symbol of integrity, accountability and selfless service.

“If we return to those values and remember those who upheld and practiced them, there is no doubt that the North would be in a better position today,” he said.

Delivering the keynote address, Bugaje stated that the North has experienced decades of economic decline, worsening insecurity and institutional decay due to a departure from the leadership ideals exemplified by figures like Gen. Hassan Katsina.

“The challenges facing the North are numerous. Food production is declining, hundreds of thousands have been displaced from their homes, the economy is shrinking, poverty has nearly tripled, and both education and healthcare systems have deteriorated,” he said.

He added that insecurity continues to undermine agriculture, commerce, and social life across the region.

“It is time to ask how much of the North still remains. More importantly, how much sanity is left among the elite, especially those in government? Where is the leadership? Where is the direction?” he questioned.

Bugaje also criticized what he described as the complacency of sections of the Northern elite, noting that many have become comfortable lamenting the region’s problems without offering practical solutions.

“It has become a habit for the elite to sit comfortably and declare that the North is in trouble, or even finished. Such statements only reflect complacency or even complicity,” he said.

Recalling an encounter with the late Gen. Hassan Katsina, Bugaje narrated how the former military governor encouraged him after the then American ambassador complained about an article he wrote criticizing Western imperialism.

“The American ambassador traveled to Kaduna to complain about my article. After reading it, General Hassan called me, not to stop, but to encourage me to write more. That was the kind of leader he was,” he said.

Bugaje described leaders of Hassan Katsina’s generation as individuals who combined modern education with deeply rooted Northern values such as discipline, modesty, justice and commitment to community service.

“They embodied contentment, respect for rules and procedures, modesty, and a vision of a prosperous North where every individual looked out for one another,” he said.

He urged current leaders to return to these ideals to effectively address the region’s growing social, economic and security challenges.

The annual memorial conference was organized to honor the legacy of the late Gen. Hassan Usman Katsina and to promote discussions on leadership, governance and the future of Northern Nigeria.