Isaac Samuel
The Emir of Katsina, Abdulmumini Kabir Usman, created an unusual embarrassing scene for the DG of APC Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari this week when the DG led a delegation to the Emir’s palace.
In an abrasive and outspoken tone, the Emir accused Nigerian politicians of neglecting the people as soon as they assume political office.
He challenged the Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, to speak the truth to political leaders and address the insecurity and economic hardship confronting Nigerians.
This came as the party intensifies consultations ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Senator Abdulaziz Yari was in the palace to with a delegation of APC chieftains to consult the Katsina Emirate as part of nationwide consultations with traditional rulers ahead of the next presidential election.
The Emir’s emphasis on the consequences of unfulfilled promises and other statements provided uncomfortable moments for the visiting politicians.
Tinubu lost the 2023 presidential election in Katsina to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Atiku polled 489,045 votes in Katsina against Tinubu’s 482,283, winning the state by 6,762 votes, despite the APC candidate winning more local government areas..
The Emir warned Yari against making false claims to win public support, insisting that political leaders must prioritise the welfare of ordinary citizens rather than personal interests and political rivalries.
“Director-General, you are now in a position of leadership. This is not just about this place; it concerns the entire country. We are all children of this nation, and we must stand for the truth,” the Emir told Yari.
He urged the campaign chief to ensure that his message reached political leaders and others in positions of authority across the country, stressing that leadership must be rooted in service and compassion.
“I swear to God, unless you love people, help them and work with them, you cannot expect Allah to love you, stand by you and help you,” he said.
The Emir also warned politicians against using hostility, condemnation and backbiting to advance their ambitions, insisting that political engagement should be based on persuasion, dialogue and the willingness to listen to opposing views.
“Yes, politics, it must be about politics. What is politics? You convince me to accept your conviction,” he said.
“You must be wise enough to listen to what I have to say or consider my point of view. That is politics. It is not fighting or condemning others.
“It is not about backbiting, envy or malice.”
The monarch lamented that political life had become increasingly characterised by attempts to destroy opponents and prevent others from earning a living, rather than collective efforts to solve the country’s problems.
“We have changed, but there seems to be nothing in our hearts except condemning others, destroying people, preventing them from earning a livelihood and plotting evil against them. Why? Why all this?” he asked.
He cautioned that those who treated others with contempt should not assume they would never experience similar treatment.
“Whoever you are, I repeat, whoever you are, if you treat another person with contempt, I swear to God, you will eventually experience something you do not like,” he said.
The Emir stressed the need for truthfulness in political dealings, warning against deliberately misrepresenting events to secure public support.
He acknowledged that Islamic teachings recognise limited circumstances in which deception may be permitted, including reconciliation and certain situations during warfare, but said such exceptions should not be used to justify dishonesty in ordinary political engagements.
“But lying in this manner, when you come to me and claim something happened when you know it did not, is unacceptable. May Allah guide us to what is right, I swear to God,” he said.
The monarch added that truthfulness should guide public officials regardless of their ambitions or political affiliations.
“As for me, wherever I go, whenever I open my mouth, I speak the truth. I have said this based on the Holy Quran,” he said.
The Emir expressed concern that insecurity had prevented farmers from accessing their farmlands, threatening livelihoods and agricultural production across parts of northern Nigeria.
“Why are we drifting apart? Farmers have been prevented from carrying out their activities,” he said.
He challenged political leaders to pay attention to the consequences of insecurity for rural communities instead of remaining preoccupied with political competition and personal advancement.
The monarch also cited the decline of industrial establishments in Kaduna State, specifically mentioning the DIC and Peugeot company as examples of enterprises whose condition should concern northern leaders.
“If you go to Kaduna, look at the DIC and the Peugeot company. Where are they now? They have all collapsed. Why?” he asked.
Expressing disappointment over what he described as the silence of influential figures, the Emir urged elders and political leaders to speak out and demand solutions to the region’s challenges.
“And we have remained silent. Who are the elders?” he asked.
“We have to speak. We have to speak. We must stand up and take action.”
Earlier, Yari said the delegation had visited the Katsina Emirate to pay homage to the traditional ruler and seek the support, prayers and blessings of the Emir and the people of the state for Tinubu’s re-election.
“We are here to pay homage to the revered Katsina Emirate, convey our respect to the traditional institution and seek the support of the Emir and the people of Katsina State for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections,” Yari said, according to a report on the visit.
The former Zamfara State governor explained that the consultations formed part of a wider engagement with traditional rulers and political stakeholders to build consensus ahead of the 2027 elections.
The campaign council said its visits were intended to seek prayers, blessings and wise counsel from royal fathers, rather than formal political endorsements.
Yari also stressed the importance of traditional institutions in promoting peace, unity and stability, assuring the rulers that stakeholders would be carried along in the council’s preparations for the election.
The delegation’s visits on October 19 included the Emirs of Gwandu, Katsina, Daura and Zaria, following earlier engagements with the Ooni of Ife and the Emir of Ilorin.
