By Ibrahim Muhammad Sani
They went to seek royal blessing for 2027. They went with big convoy, big agbada, big talk.
But Emir of Katsina – who is known for saying truth to power – did not give them usual praise singing. He addressed them about politics and why being selfish is destroying Nigeria.
I got report from someone inside palace. Let me tell you what Emir said.
Emir sat down, looked at them, and said in Hausa:
“Ku ne masu mulki, amma ku manta da talakawa. Siyasa ta zama ta son kai, ba ta al’umma ba.”
“You are the ones in power, but you have forgotten the common people. Politics has become selfishness, not service.”
Emir told them 4 bitter truths:
- “You Come To Palace Only When You Need Votes”*
Emir said: “Every 4 years you come to my palace with cap in hand, asking for prayers, asking for support. After election, you disappear to Abuja, to Lagos. You don’t come back until next election. Is palace voting center or toilet that you visit only when pressed?”
He reminded them that Katsina is home of Buhari, home of Yar’Adua. Katsina people gave Tinubu 100% in 2023? No, Tinubu got only 45% in Katsina. Atiku got 45% too. Katsina people are not fools. They vote for who helps them, not for party.
- “Why Being Selfish Is Killing Your Party”
Emir said: “In my days, politics was about community. Now politics is about one man, his son, his wife, his bank account. You call it Renewed Hope, but people in Katsina are in renewed hunger.”
He said: “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 ticket while bandits are in Batsari, in Jibia, in Safana killing people. Is that not selfishness? Your people are dying, you are fighting for ticket.”
- “Katsina Farmers Cannot Go To Farm, But You Are Campaigning”
Emir was very angry on this one.
He said: “In my Emirate, 52 schools closed because of bandits – same number Doka mentioned in his article. Farmers cannot go to farm in 12 LGAs. People pay N10m, N20m ransom to Turji and his boys. And you come to me talking about DG campaign for Tinubu 2027? Should you not be talking about DG security for Katsina 2026?”
He asked Tinubu’s entourage: “Where is Bello Turji? You promised to handle security. Turji is in forest 100km from here. Go and bring him, then come and campaign.”
Palace source told me everyone was quiet. DG campaign had no answer.
- “If You Are Selfish, People Will Be Selfish With Their Votes”
Finally, Emir warned them:
“If you do politics of selfishness – only for your family, your cronies, your contract – then people will also do politics of selfishness. 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.”
He said: “In 2023, you brought rice, you brought money, but Katsina people still split votes. In 2027, if you bring same selfish politics, they will collect but not vote you.”
MY TAKE AS COMRADE IBRAHIM
Comrades, Emir of Katsina has spoken truth that many Emirs fear to speak.
This is same thing I have been saying:
APC DG campaign going round palaces is waste of time if they don’t fix hunger and security.
You cannot go to Emir of Katsina whose people are being killed in Faskari and tell him “support Tinubu for 2027.” He will ask you “what did Tinubu do for Katsina in 2023-2026?”
Answer: Nothing.
- Fuel from N185 to N1,200
- Dollar from N460 to N1,700
- Banditry increased, not decreased
- Fertilizer from N8k to N45k
So what will DG campaign tell Emir? That they built road in Ogun with Almajiri money?
Emir of Katsina is different from other Emirs. He is 70+ years, he doesn’t fear Abuja. He told Buhari truth, he told Yar’Adua truth. Now he told Tinubu entourage truth.
LESSON FOR TINUBU AND APC DG:
Don’t go to Katsina Palace for blessing. Go to Batsari, to Jibia, to Safana for blessing of farmers.
Don’t go to Emir with convoy of 50 cars while his subjects trek 20km because bandits took their motorcycles.
Don’t do selfish politics and expect selfless votes.
As Emir said: “Siyasa ta son kai, za ta haifar da zabe na son kai.”Selfish politics will breed selfish voting.
If you ignore Emir’s warning, in 2027 Katsina – Buhari’s state – will vote against APC DG and Tinubu.
Emir has spoken. Will APC listen? Or will they go back to Abuja and write report that “Emir prayed for us” as usual lie?
What do you think? Should Emirs be telling politicians truth like this? Or should they keep quiet and pray?
COPIED
