Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and the 16th Emir of Kano and former Central Bank Governor, Muhammad Sanusi II collectively underscored a consensus that Nigeria is grappling with weaponised poverty, economic mismanagement, and worsening insecurity — all of which demand urgent, coordinated action across political lines.
Atiku has strongly criticized the Bola Tinubu-led administration, accusing it of deliberately weaponising poverty against Nigerians.
Atiku made this assertion on Saturday in Abuja while speaking at the 60th birthday lecture of former Rivers State Governor and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi. The event was themed “Weaponising Poverty in Nigeria.”
In his address, Atiku emphasized that the alarming level of poverty across the country, particularly in the North, is not accidental but the result of deliberate policy decisions aimed at suppressing the people. He recalled how in his youth, Kano State was among the most prosperous regions in Nigeria.
“When I was growing up in the North, the most prosperous city or state was Kano State. As soon as I finished my secondary education, my first place of work was in Kano. I never saw people sleeping outside, not even under flyovers or in front of shops,” he said.
Contrasting the past with the present, Atiku painted a grim picture of the current state of Kano. “Recently, when I visited Kano, I was shocked to see people sleeping under bridges, on the streets, and outside shops. These are people displaced by poverty and insecurity,” he lamented. He added that a state agency in Kano had begun efforts to rehabilitate such people and remove them from the streets, but those efforts were abruptly halted by orders from Abuja. “They were called from Abuja and were told to stop it,” Atiku claimed.
Atiku stressed that this weaponisation of poverty is being used as a tool to suppress dissent and maintain political control. He declared that he is currently working with other politicians and stakeholders to build a strong, united coalition aimed at eradicating poverty and halting the misuse of state resources to keep Nigerians impoverished.
In his own remarks, the celebrant, Rotimi Amaechi, echoed similar concerns, criticizing the current administration’s economic policies and lack of capacity. Amaechi questioned what became of the funds saved from the removal of fuel subsidies.
“The government claimed it has stopped the payment of about N5 trillion in fuel subsidy. The question is, what did they do with the money? If they had plowed it back into the economy, the issue of poverty would have been mitigated,” he argued.
Amaechi drew from his experience as Governor of Rivers State, where he linked rising insecurity with economic hardship. “When I was governor, I told my Commissioner of Finance to raise funds, pay contractors, pay salaries. And what happened? Insecurity reduced. So, it’s about poverty,” he said. According to him, poverty drives crime and unrest, and injecting money into the economy is one of the quickest solutions to stabilize society.
He also criticized the politicization of religion and ethnicity, particularly during election cycles. “It is only during elections that politicians remind Nigerians whether they are Christians or Muslims. They exploit ethnic divisions to win votes rather than focus on competence,” he said. He mocked the adoption of a Muslim-Muslim ticket by the ruling party, saying, “They should have also created a Muslim-Muslim market. Hunger knows no religion.”
Amaechi urged political leaders to put national interest above religious and ethnic sentiments. “Let’s put the country first in all we do,” he stated emphatically.
Also speaking at the lecture, Muhammad Sanusi II, painted a bleak picture of Nigeria’s economic outlook. He warned that the country is in the midst of an economic and security crisis that must be urgently addressed.
Sanusi highlighted the severe impact of inflation, noting that it has remained above 30 percent for years. “Even at 18 percent inflation, prices double every year. Imagine what happens at over 30 percent,” he said.
The former Emir called for serious reforms and actions to reverse the downward economic trend and improve the living standards of Nigerians.
The event served as a powerful platform for notable Nigerian leaders to voice deep concerns over the state of the nation.