Late Augustine Mashi Katakata
By Abdulmalik Magwe Bello
On Wednesday in Kassa, Taraba State, the earth shook, heaven cried, and the people were left teary as Augustine Mashi Katakata was finally laid to rest.
Katakata, a totem pole, a pillar, and a political field marshal, had raised and echoed in every nook and cranny in the political terrain of not only Kassa but Yorro Local Government and Taraba State as a whole.
His legacies are palpable, even the blind can attest to them.
A classroom teacher who rose from the four walls to the Taraba State Legislative Chamber, later as the Caretaker Chairman of Yorro LGA, and then to the Executive Council as a Commissioner.
Augustine Mashi Katakata (JP), born in 1950 (nd), began his educational journey at Kassa Primary School from 1969 to 1975, where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC).
He proceeded to Teachers College, Jada, Adamawa State, from 1967 to 1979, where he bagged his Grade III Certificate in Education.
His penchant for education was unquenchable, which led him to Teachers College, Mubi, Adamawa State, from 1981 to 1983, where he earned his Grade II Certificate in Education.
His thirst for education remained unquenched, so he proceeded to the College of Education, Jalingo (now College of Education, Zing), Taraba State, from 1991 to 1995, and bagged his National Certificate in Education (NCE).
Again, he obtained an Advanced Diploma in Public Administration at the Federal University of Technology, Yola (now Modibbo Adama University), Yola, Adamawa State.
The late Katakata served as a classroom teacher, with his first appointment as a career civil servant under the Jalingo Local Government Education Authority in 1979, later promoted to Headmaster from 1985 to 1987. His passion for teaching engineered his transfer of service to the Taraba State Teaching Service Board, and he was later posted to Government Secondary School, Kassa, Yorro LGA, as a classroom teacher from 1997 to 1998.
After years as a career civil servant, Katakata voluntarily resigned and joined politics. He contested and won as a Member of the House of Assembly, serving from 1999 to 2003.
He was appointed Caretaker Chairman of Yorro LGA for only three months. His reign was marked with bounties that birthed the “Katakata Hall,” an event place that still echoes in the ears of all.
Katakata was later appointed as Kpanti of Kassa, but his reign was short-lived as he resigned after two weeks.
The lucky Augustine was also appointed as a Federal Member of the National Sports Institute (nd).
Again, from 2011 to 2015, Katakata served as Commissioner of Commerce and Industry, Taraba State, during the late Pharm. Danbaba D. Suntai’s administration.
Until his death, he was a Board Member of the Local Government Staff Pension Board, Jalingo, Taraba State.
The brave Katakata fought and lost the battle in the hands of death after a prolonged sickness at his residence in Kassa.
He died leaving behind one wife, twelve children, and sixteen grandchildren.
He died on August 25, 2025, at the age of 75.
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