‘It’s Renewed Hunger, Not Renewed Hope’ — Katsina Emir Tackles APC Campaign Team

The Emir of Katsina, Abdulmumini Usman, has criticised the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, describing the current situation in the state as “renewed hunger” and warning the All Progressives Congress (APC) against assuming that distributing rice and money will guarantee electoral support in 2027.

The Press Nigeria reports that the emir made the remarks when the Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari, visited his palace.

Speaking during the visit, Usman accused politicians of abandoning the welfare of ordinary Nigerians in pursuit of personal interests, alleging that politics had shifted from community service to the pursuit of individual and family benefits.

“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 said.

The traditional ruler also faulted politicians for allegedly abandoning traditional institutions and ordinary citizens after elections, only to return to seek their support when another election approaches.

“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,” he stated.

Usman further expressed concern over internal political disputes within the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections, questioning why party members were fighting over tickets while communities continued to grapple with insecurity.

“Your people are dying; you are fighting for a ticket,” the emir said.

He claimed that insecurity had forced about 52 schools to shut down and prevented farmers from accessing their farmlands in approximately 12 local government areas of Katsina State.

The emir also challenged the government to demonstrate concrete results in its fight against banditry, citing notorious bandit leader Bello Turji as an example of the security challenges confronting the region.

“You promised to handle security. Turji is in a forest 100km from here. Go and bring him, then come and campaign,” he said.

Warning the APC against relying on campaign handouts to secure votes, the emir recalled the voting pattern in Katsina during the 2023 general elections and argued that receiving political gifts did not necessarily translate into electoral loyalty.

“In 2027, if you bring the same selfish politics, they will collect but not vote for you,” he added.

The emir’s remarks underscore concerns over insecurity, economic hardship and political accountability as parties begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.