Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the current administration of deliberately using poverty as a political tool to suppress and control Nigerians. He made this statement on Saturday in Abuja during a lecture marking the 60th birthday of former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi. The event was themed “Weaponising Poverty in Nigeria.”
“This particular government is weaponising poverty,” Atiku declared, arguing that economic hardship is being manipulated for political gain.
He illustrated his point with a personal reflection on growing up in northern Nigeria, particularly in Kano State.
“When I was growing up, Kano was the most prosperous place in the north. After finishing secondary school, I moved there. I never saw people sleeping on the streets. Today, people are living under bridges, displaced by poverty and insecurity,” he said.
Atiku alleged that when local authorities in Kano attempted to remove vulnerable people from the streets and provide support, they were instructed by officials in Abuja to halt their efforts.
Determined to resist what he described as the deliberate entrenchment of poverty, Atiku said: “You may call me a conspirator, but we are in this alliance to stop the weaponisation of poverty. One of our star conspirators is Rotimi Amaechi. We will continue to work together to reduce poverty and prevent its use as a tool of oppression.”
Also speaking at the event, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai described Nigeria’s current condition as dire.
“Nigeria is in its biggest trouble since 1914. That’s why we’re working together to build a coalition to bring the country back on track,” he said.
However, El-Rufai offered a different perspective on Atiku’s accusation. “I don’t think politicians are smart enough to intentionally weaponise poverty. Poverty, if left unchecked, weaponises itself. That’s what has happened in Nigeria.”
He blamed the country’s predicament on the repeated elevation of unqualified leaders. “We keep handing power to people who don’t know what to do with it. They know how to win elections, but not how to govern. Wherever you see progress in Nigeria, it’s because competent people were given a chance to lead.”
He urged Nigerians to be more discerning in future elections. “In 2027, the real challenge is to choose leaders based on competence, capacity, and commitment—not just popularity.”
Amaechi, however, took a different view, placing the blame not on the leadership but on the citizens themselves.
“Nigerian leaders and elites are not the problem. The real problem is the followership. No Nigerian leader truly cares, because the people allow it,” he said.
He cited the public’s lack of sustained resistance following protests as evidence of apathy. “You protested, and immediately after, the president increased the price of fuel—because he knew there would be no consequence.”
Expressing deep frustration, Amaechi added: “We don’t want to move the country forward. If you’re not ashamed, I am. Sometimes I ask myself: do we even want to be a country?”