Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, has claimed that traditional rulers in the state have pledged their loyalty and support to President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election, describing the President as a son of the soil.
Radda made the disclosure on Monday while receiving a delegation led by former Zamfara State Governor and Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Abdulaziz Yari.
The delegation had visited the emirs of Katsina and Daura as part of consultations with traditional institutions ahead of Tinubu’s re-election bid.
According to Radda, the traditional rulers expressed support for the President because of his longstanding political relationship with Katsina and its prominent leaders.
‘They have shown their support, and they have pledged their loyalty to Mr President. They consider Mr President as the son of the soil,’ the governor declared.
He explained that Tinubu’s political ties with the state dated back several years, citing his support for former President Muhammadu Buhari and his relationship with the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
‘He has been a political friend to our late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. So Katsina State is his home, and he has come to reassure us,’ Radda said.
The governor maintained that Yari’s delegation had embarked on the visits to mobilise support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition.
‘He was here to canvas for votes. He has gone around to visit the traditional institutions to explain to them the mission and vision of Mr President and his intention for this country,’ he stated.
Radda expressed confidence that the engagements would strengthen the APC’s chances in Katsina, assuring the delegation of his administration’s commitment to Tinubu’s re-election.
‘We assured them of our efforts to ensure the victory of Mr President come 2027 election, Insha Allah,’ he said.
However, Yari, in a separate account of the consultations, maintained that the delegation’s visits to traditional rulers across northern Nigeria were intended to seek prayers, blessings and wise counsel rather than political endorsements.
Radda nevertheless insisted that the reception accorded to the delegation demonstrated growing support for Tinubu in the state.
‘It was very interesting, and they have seen it themselves. Katsina has responded positively to supporting Mr President,’ he said.
The consultations followed Saturday’s inauguration of the APC campaign council in Katsina, during which Radda called for party unity and grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.