Emir Of Katsina Tackles Tinubu Campaign DG Yari, Radda, Others Over Insecurity

The Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Dr. Abdulmumini Kabir Usman, has challenged the Director-General of President Bola Tinubu’s campaign, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, Governor Dikko Umaru Radda and other political leaders to prioritise insecurity and economic hardship over political ambitions ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Emir made the remarks during a visit by a delegation of political leaders led by Senator Yari, a former governor of Zamfara State, according to a viral video circulating on social media.

The delegation, which included Governor Radda, former Governor Aminu Bello Masari, and other former governors and political stakeholders, also visited the Emir of Daura before leaving Katsina State.

In the video, the Emir expressed displeasure with politicians who, he said, seek the support and prayers of traditional rulers during election campaigns but abandon the people after securing political offices.

He criticised what he described as a growing culture of selfishness in Nigerian politics, arguing that political leaders had become more concerned about personal interests than the welfare of the people they were elected to serve.

“Every four years you come to my palace with cap in hand, asking for prayers, asking for support. After election, you disappear to Abuja, to Lagos. You don’t come back until next election,” the Emir was quoted as saying in the circulating video.

He questioned whether politicians considered traditional palaces places of genuine engagement with the people or merely venues to visit when seeking electoral support.

The Emir’s remarks also touched on political divisions within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Katsina State as political actors position themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.

He reportedly expressed concern that politicians were preoccupied with campaign appointments and political contests in the state among politicians and stakeholders while residents continued to face security threats.

The monarch questioned the logic of pursuing political interests when communities in front line areas remained vulnerable to attacks by armed groups.

The remarks presented a sharp contrast between the political activities surrounding the 2027 elections and the immediate concerns of residents struggling with insecurity and economic hardship.

The monarch also reportedly criticised the gap between government promises and the economic realities facing ordinary Nigerians, raising concerns on the cost of living and the difficulties confronting households struggling to afford basic necessities.

The Emir argued that politics should be driven by community development and public service rather than the interests of individual politicians, their families and associates.

He warned that leaders who neglect the needs of ordinary citizens risk losing their support at the ballot box.

The Emir also drew attention to the consequences of insecurity in Katsina State, including disruptions to education, farming and economic activities.

According to him, lot of schools had been closed because of banditry, while farmers in 12 local government areas faced difficulties accessing their farmlands.

The remarks also referenced reports of families paying millions of naira in ransom to secure the release of kidnapped relatives.

The monarch challenged political leaders to demonstrate tangible results in tackling banditry rather than concentrating on campaign activities.

His reported comments underscored the frustration surrounding the persistence of insecurity in northwestern Nigeria, where attacks and kidnappings continue to threaten lives and livelihoods.

In one of the most politically significant portions of the video, the Emir warned that distributing food and money during election campaigns would not guarantee electoral support.

He argued and questioned why all Northern factories of Peugeot Company in Kaduna and Arewa textile were closed, why forming multiple of forums that are effective to reviving the north economy, calling the stakeholders and politicians to wake up, having a change of heart for the common good of the region.

The warning raises questions about the effectiveness of campaign strategies that rely heavily on material inducements rather than sustained engagement with constituents and measurable improvements in their living conditions.

The Emir’s remarks come as political leaders across Nigeria begin preparations for the 2027 general elections, with the APC seeking to consolidate support for Tinubu’s re-election.

The delegation’s visits to the Emirs of Katsina and Daura also highlight the continuing importance of traditional institutions in Nigeria’s political landscape.

For Katsina, where insecurity has affected communities and livelihoods, the message attributed to the Emir is particularly significant as political activities gather momentum ahead of 2027.

The central question raised by the monarch’s reported intervention is whether political leaders will prioritise the challenges confronting their constituents or allow the struggle for electoral advantage to overshadow their responsibilities to the people.