‘Do Not Lie To Nigerians’: Emir Of Katsina Warns Tinubu’s 2027 Campaign Chief Yari, Says Insecurity Keeps Farmers Off Their Farms | Sahara Reporters
The Emir stressed that political engagement should be based on persuasion, dialogue and the ability to listen to opposing views rather than confrontation, insults and condemnation.
The Emir of Katsina Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir Usman has cautioned Senator Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari, Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, against lying to Nigerians, warning that political leaders must address insecurity and the hardship confronting ordinary citizens.
The monarch also declared that “politics is not madness,” urging politicians to abandon deceit, hatred, envy and the deliberate destruction of others for political gains.
The Emir made the remarks directly to Yari when the senator visited his palace in Katsina State earlier this week. They were recorded in a Hausa-language video seen by SaharaReporters.
In the video, the monarch expressed concern that insecurity had made it difficult for farmers to access their farmlands, while economic and industrial activities in parts of northern Nigeria continued to deteriorate.
He challenged political leaders to prioritise the welfare of the people rather than use their positions of influence for personal comfort, political rivalry or the persecution of opponents.
Addressing Yari, the Emir said, “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.”
He urged the campaign chief to ensure that his message reached political leaders and others in positions of authority across the country.
“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,” the monarch said.
The Emir stressed that political engagement should be based on persuasion, dialogue and the ability to listen to opposing views rather than confrontation, insults and condemnation.
“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.
He reminded Yari that politicians who enjoy the support of the people have a responsibility to respect them, work with them and demonstrate genuine concern for their welfare.
According to the monarch, leadership should not be reduced to political calculations or the pursuit of personal interests, but should involve meaningful consultation and collective efforts to solve the problems confronting the country.
He cited the importance of religious teachings in promoting selflessness, saying both the Holy Quran and the Bible emphasise the need to put the interests of others before personal gains.
“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.
However, the Emir lamented that these values appeared to be disappearing from political life, accusing some people of concentrating on condemning others, destroying their livelihoods and plotting against those they consider rivals.
“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?”
The monarch warned that political leaders must examine their conduct and the consequences of their actions on society, stressing that those who treat 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 also condemned deliberate dishonesty in political engagements, insisting that politicians must not make false claims or misrepresent events to win public support.
He acknowledged that Islamic teachings recognise limited circumstances in which deception may be permitted, citing reconciliation between estranged people, the preservation of harmony between spouses and certain situations during warfare.
However, he argued that such exceptions should not be used to justify dishonesty in ordinary political dealings.
“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 emphasised that truthfulness should remain a guiding principle for public officials and political actors, regardless of their ambitions or 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.
The Emir’s warning came amid his expression of concern over the impact of insecurity on agricultural activities and livelihoods in northern Nigeria.
He lamented that farmers had been prevented from carrying out their activities, raising questions about the consequences of insecurity for rural communities and the wider regional economy.
“Why are we drifting apart? Farmers have been prevented from carrying out their activities,” he said.
His remarks highlighted the difficulties faced by farming communities unable to access their fields because of security threats, a situation that can undermine livelihoods and agricultural production.
The monarch challenged political leaders to pay attention to these realities instead of remaining preoccupied with political competition and personal advancement.
He also questioned the decline of industrial establishments in Kaduna State, citing the DIC and Peugeot company as examples of enterprises whose present conditions, he argued, 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.
The Emir expressed disappointment that regional leaders had not done enough to speak out about the challenges confronting their communities.
“We have to speak. We have to speak. We must stand up and take action.”
He urged elders and influential political figures to use their positions to demand solutions to insecurity, economic decline and the problems preventing ordinary people from earning a living.
According to him, leadership should be measured by the practical difference officials make in people’s lives rather than their status, wealth or access to privilege.