The Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir Usman, has urged the APC to be honest about the country’s challenges, warning that insecurity is keeping farmers from their land as economic hardship worsens.
He spoke during a visit to his palace by Senator Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari, director-general of the APC Presidential Campaign Council for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
In a video of the meeting recorded in Hausa, the Emir told Yari to make sure political leaders understood the difficulties facing ordinary Nigerians.
“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,” he said.
Usman said leaders should focus on improving people’s lives, tackling insecurity and helping Nigerians earn a living. He also criticised politicians who use false claims to win support or attack their opponents.
“Politics is about convincing me to accept your point of view,” he said. “It is not fighting or condemning others.”
The Emir questioned why politicians seemed more focused on attacking one another than addressing the country’s problems. He said leaders should put the public’s interests ahead of personal ambition and be accountable for how they treat citizens.
He also warned that insecurity was threatening livelihoods and food production, particularly in northern Nigeria, where farmers are struggling to reach their fields.
“Farmers have been prevented from carrying out their activities,” he said, calling on leaders to protect rural communities affected by violence.
Usman pointed to the decline of industry in Kaduna, including the Defence Industries Corporation and the Peugeot plant.
“If you go to Kaduna, look at the DIC and the Peugeot company. Where are they now? They have all collapsed. Why?” he said.
He called on traditional rulers, politicians and other influential figures to speak out about insecurity and economic decline.
Yari, a former governor of Zamfara State and a serving senator, is leading the APC’s early preparations for Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign.
