Atiku Accuses FG Of Exploiting Poverty For Political Control As Leaders Reflect On Nigeria’s Crisis

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the current federal government, accusing it of deliberately weaponising poverty as a means to subjugate the Nigerian populace.

Speaking at the 60th birthday lecture of former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, held on Saturday in Abuja, and themed “Weaponising Poverty in Nigeria,” Atiku alleged that the asdministration is intentionally perpetuating economic hardship to maintain control.

“This government is actively weaponising poverty,” Atiku stated, drawing from his personal experiences. He recalled a time when Kano State was a symbol of prosperity in northern Nigeria. “After secondary school, I moved to Kano. I never saw people sleeping outside. At that time, there were no flyovers or bridges, yet life was dignified.”

He contrasted that era with the current reality, lamenting that people in Kano now sleep under bridges and on the streets, driven there by economic hardship and insecurity. He pointed out that a state agency once took steps to rehabilitate these individuals, only to be ordered by federal authorities in Abuja to halt their operations.

Determined to push back against what he described as an oppressive trend, Atiku declared, “Call me a conspirator if you like. That’s why we’ve formed this alliance, to stop them from using state power to deepen poverty. One of our key ‘co-conspirators’ is Rotimi Amaechi. Together, we will keep working to reduce poverty, not manipulate it.”

Also speaking at the event, former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, described Nigeria’s current predicament as the worst in its history. “This is the most troubling moment for Nigeria since 1914,” he said. “We’re collaborating to build a coalition that will return Nigeria to the right path because it has completely derailed.”

While he acknowledged the notion of poverty being weaponized, El-Rufai offered a slightly different perspective. “I don’t believe politicians are smart enough to deliberately weaponise poverty,” he said. “What’s happened is that poverty has been allowed to grow unchecked, and now it’s become a weapon on its own.”

El-Rufai placed the blame squarely on the repeated election of incompetent leaders. “We keep handing power to people who don’t have a clue what to do. They’re skilled at seizing power, but not at governance.”

He called for a change in voter behavior come 2027. “Wherever progress is happening in Nigeria, it’s because a competent leader is in charge. Our problem isn’t bush bandits—it’s the urban bandits running the government. Nigerians must choose leaders with competence, capacity, and vision.”

In a more provocative tone, Amaechi shifted the blame from the elites to the general public. “Nigerian leaders are not the problem. The real issue is the followership,” he said. “No leader cares because the people never react. You protested, and the very next day, fuel prices went up. Nothing happened because the people did nothing.”

He expressed deep frustration at the country’s stagnation. “We don’t really want to move this country forward. If you’re not ashamed, I am,” he declared. Concluding on a somber note, Amaechi asked, “Sometimes I look at Nigeria and wonder, do we really want to be a country?”

Atiku Abubakar