KATSINA, Nigeria — The Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir Usman, has challenged Senator Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari, a key figure in President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign, to tell Nigerians the truth about the country’s worsening hardship, insecurity and economic decline.
The monarch warned politicians against deceiving the public for political advantage, insisting that leadership must be defined by honesty, concern for the people’s welfare and practical efforts to address the challenges confronting the country.
He also lamented that insecurity had prevented farmers from accessing their farmlands, warning that the situation was threatening livelihoods and food production.
Usman spoke when Yari, a former Zamfara State governor and senator, visited his palace in Katsina State earlier this week. Yari is the Director-General of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council for Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
The conversation was captured in a Hausa-language video in which the Emir challenged the senator to use his position to communicate the concerns of ordinary Nigerians to the country’s political leadership.
“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 monarch said.
He urged Yari to convey his concerns to other political leaders, stressing that public officeholders must demonstrate genuine commitment to improving people’s lives rather than pursuing personal interests and political rivalries.
“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,” Usman added.
‘Politics is not fighting or condemning others’
The Emir also criticised what he described as the growing culture of hostility, envy and personal attacks in Nigerian politics, arguing that political disagreements should be resolved through dialogue, persuasion and consultation.
According to him, politicians must be willing to listen to opposing views and convince others through constructive engagement rather than resorting to insults or attempts to undermine their rivals.
“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.”
Usman maintained that politicians who enjoy public support have a responsibility to prioritise the welfare of the people and work collectively to resolve the country’s problems.
He cited religious teachings in both the Holy Quran and the Bible, arguing that people should place the interests of others above personal gains.
The monarch lamented that some political actors appeared to have abandoned these principles, focusing instead on condemning opponents, undermining their livelihoods and plotting against perceived enemies.
“It has been said, ‘Fellow citizens, we must come together, discuss matters and offer explanations. This is also about consultation.’ Even the Holy Quran and the Bible teach us that the best person among you is the one who puts the interests of others before his own,” he said.
“But that is no longer the case. Why?” he asked.
“Do not tell me that we are working together. It is said that God will not change the condition of a people until they change what is within themselves. 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 warned that those who treated others with contempt should not assume they would escape the consequences of their actions.
“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,” the Emir said.
Emir warns against political falsehood
The monarch’s strongest admonition concerned honesty in political communication, with a warning against deliberately misrepresenting events or making claims known to be false to win public support.
While referring to circumstances in which Islamic teachings recognise limited exceptions concerning deception, including reconciliation and certain situations involving conflict, Usman insisted that such exceptions should not be used to justify dishonesty in ordinary political engagements.
“Come, let me explain something to you. There are circumstances in which lying is permissible: for example, to preserve harmony between a husband and his wife, or to reconcile people and prevent further conflict,” he said.
“Lying during warfare is also permitted in certain circumstances, such as using a strategic deception to mislead the enemy about the direction of an attack.
“These are among the circumstances in which it is permitted. 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.”
The Emir insisted that truthfulness must guide politicians and public officials irrespective of their ambitions or party 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 added.
Insecurity keeps farmers off their land
Beyond political dishonesty, Usman expressed concern about the impact of insecurity on farming communities in northern Nigeria, particularly the inability of farmers to access their farmlands safely.
He questioned why rural communities continued to face threats to their livelihoods while political leaders concentrated on competition for power instead of addressing the challenges affecting ordinary citizens.
“Why are we drifting apart? Farmers have been prevented from carrying out their activities,” he said.
The warning highlights the connection between insecurity, agricultural production and the economic difficulties confronting communities that depend on farming for their livelihoods.
The Emir urged political leaders to take practical steps to restore security, particularly in areas where threats and violence have disrupted farming and other economic activities.
‘Where are DIC and Peugeot company now?’
The monarch also raised concerns about the decline of industrial establishments in Kaduna State, citing the DIC and Peugeot company as examples of businesses whose fortunes should concern political leaders and elders in the region.
“If you go to Kaduna, look at the DIC and the Peugeot company. Where are they now? They have all collapsed. Why?” he asked.
“And we have remained silent. Who are the elders?” he added.
“We have to speak. We have to speak. We must stand up and take action.”
Usman called on traditional rulers, politicians and other influential figures to speak out and demand solutions to insecurity, economic decline and the difficulties preventing Nigerians from earning a living.
He maintained that leadership should be measured by its impact on people’s lives rather than the status, wealth and privileges enjoyed by those in power.
His remarks come as the APC intensifies preparations for Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign, with Yari occupying a prominent position in the party’s campaign structure.
The Emir’s intervention places the concerns of insecurity, agricultural disruption, economic hardship and political accountability at the centre of the debate over what Nigerians should expect from those seeking to retain or gain political power.
