BY TAIBAT UMMI YAKUBU

The Emir of Katsina, Abdulmumini Kabir Usman, has issued a stern warning to politicians against making promises they know they cannot fulfil, saying leaders who mislead the electorate will ultimately answer for their actions before God.

The monarch gave the warning on Thursday when the Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Abdulaziz Yari, and his delegation visited his palace in Katsina as part of consultations ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign.

Speaking during the visit, the emir said traditional rulers had a duty to speak frankly to political leaders, regardless of their status or political interests. He stressed that leaders must respect the people and remain truthful in their dealings with the electorate.

Usman warned that politicians who deliberately make unrealistic promises to win public support should not assume their actions would go unanswered.

“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,” the monarch said.

Beyond the issue of campaign promises, the emir expressed concern over what he described as the growing tendency among politicians to pursue personal interests, attack opponents and neglect the everyday challenges confronting ordinary citizens.

He urged political leaders to separate personal ambitions from the responsibilities entrusted to them by the public, warning that persistent political rivalries were weakening unity across the North-West.

Using a Hausa proverb to illustrate the depth of the problem, Usman suggested that the bonds holding people in the region together had been severely damaged, raising concerns about the consequences of continued division among political leaders and communities.

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The monarch also drew attention to the decline of industries and agricultural activities in northern Nigeria, questioning why regional leaders had not done enough to address the economic difficulties affecting the area.

He cited the collapse of major industrial establishments, including Peugeot and DIC in Kaduna, as examples of developments that should prompt serious reflection among northern politicians and elders.

Usman questioned the silence of influential northern figures over the region’s worsening challenges, urging them to move beyond expressions of concern and take practical steps towards addressing the problems.

He further challenged political leaders to reconsider their priorities, arguing that public office should be about improving people's lives rather than displaying wealth, pursuing personal comfort or frequently travelling abroad.

According to the emir, the welfare of ordinary citizens should take precedence over personal luxury, adding that leaders must demonstrate genuine concern for the people they represent.

His remarks placed public accountability, honesty in political promises and the growing economic challenges facing northern Nigeria at the centre of the palace engagement, which came as the APC campaign leadership intensified consultations ahead of Tinubu’s planned re-election bid.

The emir’s message was clear: political power comes with responsibility, and leaders who seek the people's support must be prepared to account for their promises, their priorities and the decisions they make while in office.