Monarch laments insecurity, collapse of northern industries, deepening political divisions; tells APC campaign DG Yari that politicians who make promises they cannot fulfil will face divine judgment

The Emir of Katsina, Abdulmumini Usman, has issued a strong warning to President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign team, lamenting that insecurity has made farming increasingly difficult in parts of northern Nigeria while calling on political leaders to fulfil their promises to the people.

The monarch cautioned Abdulaziz Yari, Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council, that politicians who make promises they know they cannot fulfil would eventually face the consequences of their actions.

Usman spoke on Thursday when Yari and his delegation visited his palace in Katsina as part of consultations ahead of Tinubu’s anticipated re-election campaign.

Addressing the delegation, the emir said traditional rulers had a responsibility to speak honestly to political leaders, regardless of their positions, and remind them that leadership must be anchored on respect for the people and concern for their welfare.

“Director-general, you are now on board. Not only in Katsina, but across the entire country. We as traditional leaders must tell you the truth,” he said in Hausa.

He stressed that political leaders must demonstrate genuine concern for the people, warning that those who mistreated citizens should not expect favourable consequences.

“I swear, you must love, value, and respect people before Allah will be with you. Whoever you are, if you treat people badly, you will also experience things you do not like,” the monarch said.

‘Political Lies Will Catch Up With You’

The emir reserved some of his strongest words for politicians who make promises during election campaigns without a genuine commitment to delivering them.

Drawing a distinction between lies considered permissible in certain circumstances and political deception, Usman warned that making false promises to win elections could have serious moral consequences.

“It is permissible to lie to please your wife, to lie to a patient so they can recover, and to lie during a war by claiming you are going west when you are actually heading east. These are all permissible,” he said.

“But lies of this political nature will catch up with you, especially when you know he will not deliver on his promises. God will judge us, wallahi, I swear to God.”

His remarks placed the responsibility for delivering campaign promises squarely on political leaders and those entrusted with mobilising support for the president’s re-election bid.

The monarch also criticised the growing tendency among politicians to prioritise personal interests, attack opponents and engage in political disputes at the expense of governance and public welfare.

According to him, political leadership should be about identifying and addressing the needs of citizens rather than pursuing personal enrichment or destroying the reputations of rivals.

“As traditional leaders, we have talked and advised that the first among you should be the one who separates his personal interest from the interest of others,” he said.

“However, that is no longer the case. Why? Today, we have no other preoccupation than to castigate people, destroy their wealth, and slander one another.”

‘They Stopped Us From Farming’

The emir also expressed deep concern over the economic and security challenges confronting the North-West, particularly the difficulties facing farming communities and the decline of once-prominent industries.

Questioning the direction of development in the region, Usman lamented that northern communities were struggling to sustain traditional economic activities while political leaders continued to engage in endless meetings and consultations.

“Where is the north-west heading? Forum upon forum. Northern forums, where are we? They stopped us from farming,” he said.

His remarks highlighted the impact of insecurity on agricultural activities, a major source of livelihood for millions of people across northern Nigeria.

The region has long been an important agricultural hub, producing crops and livestock for local consumption and markets across the country. However, insecurity in several communities has disrupted farming, restricted movement and heightened concerns about food production and rural livelihoods.

The monarch also pointed to the decline of major industrial establishments, questioning why regional leaders had failed to speak more forcefully about the loss of economic opportunities.

“Go to Kaduna, where are DIC and the Peugeot company? They have all collapsed while we remain mute. Where are the elders? We have to talk, we must wake up,” he said.

His comments reflected concern that the North-West was losing both its agricultural strength and industrial capacity without a sufficiently forceful response from its political and traditional leadership.

‘Even a Camel Can Pass Through the Wall’

Beyond economic hardship, Usman lamented the deepening divisions among northern politicians and warned that the region’s internal disagreements could undermine its collective interests.

He questioned why political competition had increasingly become hostile, arguing that leaders should be able to disagree without turning politics into a battle against one another.

“What is politics? Convince me into your conviction that it is politics, not a fight,” he asked.

The monarch recalled that northern leaders had traditionally been encouraged to see themselves as members of one extended family, warning that the consequences of division could be severe.

“We were told to behave like children of the same father and mother and not to divide ourselves, because Allah knows that division is dangerous,” he said.

Using a Hausa proverb, Usman illustrated what he described as the alarming extent of the region’s disunity.

“A Hausa proverb says that a wall only cracks to let a lizard enter, but now, it is not just a lizard, even a camel can pass through because the wall has already fallen.”

The imagery underscored his concern that divisions once considered manageable had grown so extensive that they could expose the region to greater political and economic vulnerability.

‘Billions of Naira in Cars Will Not Solve Our Problems’

The emir further criticised public officials who display their wealth, travel abroad and enjoy expensive lifestyles while the people they govern struggle with poverty and insecurity.

He argued that genuine leadership should be measured by its impact on ordinary citizens rather than the wealth, possessions or privileges enjoyed by those in power.

“It is not just about driving cars worth billions of naira, travelling to England, and visiting other places; that is not the way out,” Usman said.

He urged politicians and influential individuals to make the welfare of others a priority, stressing that generosity and service to the community were more valuable than personal accumulation.

“Helping others is far better than helping yourself. Give to others, and Allah will give to you. If you refuse to give, Allah will not give to you either,” he added.

The emir’s intervention came as Yari and other APC figures intensified consultations ahead of Tinubu’s re-election campaign, placing renewed attention on the expectations of northern communities and the challenges confronting the region.

His remarks served as a pointed reminder that political mobilisation and campaign promises would ultimately be judged against the realities of insecurity, agricultural disruption, industrial decline and the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians.