A coalition of prominent Nigerian figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the Emir of Kano Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, and others, have issued a strong call for urgent and deliberate action against poverty, warning that failure to do so could threaten the sustainability of democracy in Nigeria.
This appeal was made during a public lecture held in Abuja on Saturday to commemorate the 60th birthday of former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi. The event, organized by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), was themed “Weaponisation of Poverty as a Means of Underdevelopment: A Case Study of Nigeria.”
Atiku Abubakar, in his remarks, condemned the use of poverty as a political tool to manipulate and control citizens. He stressed that leaders across all levels of government must rise to their responsibilities and work collectively to eradicate poverty, which he described as a major obstacle to national progress and democratic growth.
Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Prelate of the Catholic Church in Abuja, emphasized that politics should be regarded as a noble vocation dedicated to public service, rather than a channel for personal enrichment. He argued that the true purpose of leadership is to uplift the lives of citizens, which aligns with a divine calling to serve humanity. Onaiyekan also asserted that sustainable democracy can only be achieved when electoral processes are transparent, and the people are allowed to freely choose their leaders.
Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, shared personal reflections from his reign, recounting the severe poverty he witnessed firsthand in rural communities. He questioned the nation’s priorities, highlighting the disparity between urban infrastructure projects and the neglect of basic needs in remote areas. “Do we love the people, or do we just love ruling over them?” he asked, calling for empathetic leadership grounded in the realities of the masses.
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai challenged the idea that poverty is a deliberately crafted political weapon. Instead, he argued that poverty becomes a tool of manipulation when left unchecked. He maintained that the root of Nigeria’s problem lies in poor leadership choices, and he encouraged the electorate to vote for individuals capable of genuinely improving living standards.
Prof. Usman Yusuf, former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, linked the overwhelming majority of hospital cases in the country to poverty-driven social issues. He placed blame on widespread corruption and poor governance for Nigeria’s entrenched multidimensional poverty.
In his own remarks, Rotimi Amaechi connected the current insecurity in the country to the deepening poverty crisis, noting that hunger cuts across ethnic and religious boundaries. He reminded Nigerians that the power to elect leaders lies with the people and encouraged citizens to actively engage in the democratic process.
Guest lecturer Dr. Chidi Amuta, a scholar and journalist affiliated with Cambridge University, highlighted the need to redefine the meaning of democracy from the perspective of the impoverished. He argued that the true test of democratic relevance in Nigeria is its capacity to improve the lives of the majority poor. He called for a recalibration of democracy to focus more on tangible social and economic development.
The event was chaired by Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka and attended by other dignitaries including former Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson, traditional rulers, and respected academics, all of whom echoed the urgency of addressing poverty as a foundational step toward safeguarding Nigeria’s democratic future.
