IT'S NOT RENEWED HOPE, IT'S RENEWED HUNGER HERE. DISTRIBUTING RICE AND MONEY MIGHT NOT GUARANTEE OUR SUPPORT - EMIR OF KATSINA

The Emir of Katsina, Abdulmumini Usman, has criticised the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, describing it as “renewed hunger” while accusing politicians of prioritising personal interests over the welfare of citizens.

The emir spoke when Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari, Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, visited his palace.

“ 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.

He also accused politicians of abandoning traditional rulers and ordinary citizens after elections, only to return when seeking votes.

“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,” the emir said.

He questioned why APC members were fighting over tickets ahead of the 2027 elections while insecurity continued to affect communities in Katsina State.

“Your people are dying; you are fighting for a ticket,” he said, referring to political disputes within the party.

The emir claimed that banditry had forced about 52 schools to close and prevented farmers from accessing their farmlands in about 12 local government areas.

He also questioned the government’s handling of insecurity, citing notorious bandit leader Bello Turji.

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

The emir warned that distributing rice and money might not guarantee electoral support in 2027, recalling that voters had split their votes in Katsina during the 2023 elections.

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