The Emir of Katsina, HRH Alhaji Dr. Abdulmumini Kabir Usman, CFR, has delivered a scathing rebuke to the All Progressives Congress (APC), President Bola Tinubu and the leadership of the APC/Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, accusing political leaders of abandoning ordinary Nigerians while scrambling for power and political positions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a strongly worded address directed at the APC, Tinubu and the Director-General of the APC/Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council and his co-emissaries, the monarch criticised what he described as the growing culture of self-serving politics, accusing politicians of remembering the people only when they need votes.
“You are the ones in power, but you have forgotten the common people. Politics has become selfishness, not service.”
The Emir condemned the practice of politicians visiting his palace during election seasons to solicit prayers and support, only to disappear after securing electoral victory.
“Every 4 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. Is palace voting center or toilet that you visit only when pressed?”
He contrasted what he described as the community-centred politics of the past with the personal interests driving contemporary political competition, taking a direct swipe at the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope agenda.
“In my days, politics was about community. Now politics is about one man, his son, his wife, his bank account. You call it Renewed Hope, but people in Katsina are in renewed hunger.”
The monarch also condemned reported divisions within the APC in Katsina State, alleging that political actors were more concerned about securing the party’s 2027 governorship ticket than addressing the persistent insecurity ravaging communities.
“You are fighting each other in APC – Governor Dikko Radda vs former Governor Masari vs former Governor Aminu Bello Masari supporters vs Abuja boys. All fighting for 2027 ticket while bandits are in Batsari, in Jibia, in Safana killing people. Is that not selfishness? Your people are dying, you are fighting for ticket.”
He cited the alleged closure of 52 schools across his emirate because of banditry, the inability of farmers to access farmlands in 12 local government areas and reports of ransom payments running into millions of naira as evidence of the urgent security challenges confronting the state.
“In my Emirate, 52 schools closed because of bandits – same number Doka mentioned in his article. Farmers cannot go to farm in 12 LGAs. People pay N10m, N20m ransom to Turji and his boys. And you come to me talking about DG campaign for Tinubu 2027? Should you not be talking about DG security for Katsina 2026?”
Questioning the government’s handling of insecurity, the Emir challenged those seeking political support to demonstrate tangible results in the fight against banditry before returning to campaign for another election.
“Where is Bello Turji? You promised to handle security. Turji is in forest 100km from here. Go and bring him, then come and campaign.”
The Emir further warned that politicians who prioritise personal and family interests over public welfare should not expect voters to remain loyal to them, arguing that the transactional nature of election campaigns could encourage voters to accept campaign handouts while making independent choices at the ballot box.
“If you are selfish, people will be selfish with their votes.”
Expanding on his warning, he said politicians who restricted the benefits of governance to their families, associates and political networks had encouraged a similar attitude among the electorate.
“If you do politics of selfishness – only for your family, your cronies, your contacts – then people will also do politics of selfishness. They will collect your rice and vote against you. They will collect your N5,000 and still vote for who they want. Because you taught them selfishness.”
Reflecting on the 2023 elections, the monarch said the distribution of rice and money had not guaranteed uniform electoral support in Katsina, warning that repeating the same strategy in 2027 might not produce a different outcome.
“In 2023, you brought rice, you brought money, but Katsina people still split votes. In 2027, if you bring same selfish politics, they will collect but not vote you.”
