The Emir of Katsina, Abdulmumini Usman, has accused the Federal Government of prioritising President Bola Tinubu and his family’s interests over the welfare of Nigerians, describing the administration’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” as “renewed hunger.”
The monarch made the remarks when Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari, Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, visited his palace.
He criticised politicians for neglecting ordinary citizens after elections, arguing that many had turned politics into a means of pursuing personal interests rather than serving the public.
“Every four years you come to my palace with a cap in hand, asking for prayers, asking for support. After the election, you disappear to Abuja, to Lagos. You don’t come back until the next election,” the emir said in Hausa.
“Is the palace voting centre or toilet that you visit only when pressed?” the Emir asked Mr Yari.
Usman recalled that Katsina State had produced two former Nigerian presidents, the late Muhammadu Buhari and Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, before lamenting what he described as a shift from community-focused politics to personal interests.
“In my days, politics was about community. Now politics is about one man, his son, his wife, and his bank account. You call it ‘renewed hope’, but people in Katsina are in renewed hunger,” he stated.
The emir also condemned the internal disputes among APC members ahead of the 2027 general elections, arguing that political ambitions were taking precedence over the security challenges facing residents.
“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 tickets while bandits are in Batsari, in Jibia, and in Safana, killing people. Is that not selfishness? Your people are dying; you are fighting for a ticket,” Mr Usman said.
He claimed that banditry had forced approximately 52 schools to shut down and prevented farmers from accessing their farmlands in about 12 local government areas of Katsina State.
The monarch further alleged that residents had been forced to pay substantial ransoms to bandits while political leaders concentrated on preparations for the next election.
“People pay N10 million or N20 million ransom to Turji and his boys. And you come to me talking about the DG campaign for Tinubu 2027? Should you not be talking about DG security for Katsina 2026? “
He also questioned the whereabouts of notorious bandit leader Bello Turji, challenging the government to demonstrate its commitment to tackling insecurity before seeking electoral support.
“Where is Bello Turji?” he asked Mr Tinubu’s entourage. “You promised to handle security. Turji is in a forest 100km from here. Go and bring him, then come and campaign.”
Usman warned that politicians who placed the interests of their families, associates and business dealings above those of ordinary citizens risked losing public support at the polls.
“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.
“In 2023, you brought rice, you brought money, but Katsina people still split votes. In 2027, if you bring the same selfish politics, they will collect but not vote for you,” he added.
