In a political landscape where truth often becomes the first casualty of ambition, Governor Dikko Umaru Radda of Katsina State has chosen to walk a different path, one paved with honesty, courage, and an unshakable commitment to the Nigerian people.
Appearing recently on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Governor Radda stood out with his bold and candid takes on some of Nigeria’s most pressing political issues. Unlike many of his contemporaries who speak in whispers behind closed doors, Radda spoke truth to power in broad daylight.
On the subject of the emerging political coalition, he asked the right questions, the kind every discerning Nigerian should be asking: “Who are these people in the coalition? What exactly is new about them?”
These were not mere rhetorical jabs; they were incisive critiques aimed at exposing the recycled nature of Nigerian politics.
As he rightly pointed out, we are witnessing the rebranding of old wine in new bottles, paraded as fresh alternatives.
The coalition in question comprises familiar names Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, Nasir El-Rufai, David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, and others, figures who have had their turns in government. Their recent rediscovery of patriotism and their sudden concern for the masses might have been touching if it weren’t so cynical. These are political entrepreneurs seeking relevance, offering solutions to problems they once helped to create or, at best, failed to solve.
Governor Radda’s challenge on the fuel subsidy debate cut through their populist posturing. “If they want to return the fuel subsidy, they should say how they’ll fund it. Where will the money come from?” he asked. This question doesn’t just demand an answer; it demands responsibility. It separates those prepared to govern from those eager only to campaign. Anyone can promise change, but can map the route to it.
His critics, unable to answer the substance of his questions, chose instead to attack the messenger. This, in itself, is telling. When faced with evidence of the shallow nature of their political strategy, their response was noise, not reason.
They behaved like children caught in mischief, throwing tantrums instead of addressing the issues raised.
What makes Radda different is not just his courage to speak, but his record of delivery. While others trade in promises, Radda brings performance. Where many politicians navigate by the winds of electoral convenience, Radda is guided by the compass of truth.
He recognises Georgia’s economic realities, the pain, the pressure, and the harshness, and he does not sugarcoat them. Unlike others who weaponise the suffering of citizens for political gain, Radda seeks genuine solutions. He reminds us that economic hardship did not start with Tinubu’s presidency. It has been a lingering companion of the Nigerian state across administrations from Shagari to Buhari, Obasanjo to Jonathan.
In Katsina, where agriculture sustains over 90 per cent of the population, Governor Radda has implemented significant interventions: access to tractors, improved extension services, and support for smallholder farmers. His vision is clear, restore dignity through productivity. When a man can feed his family, he earns his dignity. And from dignity springs hope.
He has also taken innovative steps in youth empowerment. A six-month entrepreneurship training program has birthed new job creators, not just job seekers. This is what transformational leadership looks like, turning Nigeria’s youth bulge into a productive force.
In the healthcare sector, Governor Radda is matching infrastructure development with capacity building. The recruitment of health workers, the provision of world-class equipment, and his bold plan to engage over 10,000 personnel show long-term thinking, not quick fixes. His decision to sponsor 40 students to study medicine in Egypt, with the mandate that they return to serve their local governments, is both patriotic and practical. It’s a direct strike against brain drain and a boost for rural healthcare.
These achievements have unsettled the opposition in Katsina. Their loud rhetoric has been silenced by visible results. Their once-strongholds have been transformed into testimonies of good governance. And when Governor Radda boldly invites the media and citizens to come and see his work for themselves, he demonstrates a level of transparency rare in Nigerian politics.
As we approach another electoral cycle, the contrast could not be clearer. Governor Radda represents results-driven leadership. His critics, on the other hand, are trapped in political theatre, trying to rewrite their records in the face of current irrelevance.
When leaders deliver on their promises, the people follow no need for propaganda. This is the kind of politics Nigeria desperately needs: one that is rooted in delivery, truth, and national interest.
The political coalition may continue to bark, but the people of Katsina and indeed, discerning Nigerians are watching. No matter the noise, the path to 2027 is becoming clearer. It is built not on recycled narratives but on purposeful governance. If leadership like Radda’s continues, then a second term for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not mere speculation, it becomes a natural outcome of a government that works.
In the end, what Governor Radda has offered is a blueprint: leadership that is bold, courageous, and solutions-driven. In today’s Nigeria, that is worth more than a thousand campaign promises.
Umar Farooq Muhammad is a public analyst based in Lagos.
He can be reached via: [email protected]
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