Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai asserted over the weekend that Nigeria currently faces a greater poverty crisis than at its 1960 independence, calling for urgent government action. This statement came during the “Moving Forward Together” forum in Owerri, Imo State, which was marred by violent interruptions at the subsequent Odenigbo Lecture.
Speaking at the event, the ex-governor emphasized the alarming reality that Nigeria’s poor population outnumbers its entire 1960 population, pointing out that countries like China and India have started to curb poverty effectively. He called for a pragmatic yet ambitious plan to uplift hardworking Nigerians and discourage corrupt wealth-seeking behaviors instead of expanding bureaucratic poverty programs.
Statistics reveal Nigeria’s population surged from about 45 million in 1960 to over 220 million today, while poverty penetrates more than half of citizens, especially in rural areas where rates often surpass 75%. El-Rufai also criticized the declining voter participation, noting turnout dropped from 60% in 2003 to below 30% in the 2023 presidential election, stressing the need to rebuild trust in the democratic process through measures like electronic voting.
During his visit, the Odenigbo Lecture held at Maria Assumpta Catholic Cathedral was violently disrupted by hired thugs, which was later condemned by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Catholic Church officials. The ADC termed the attack as a serious threat to societal peace and called for prompt prosecution of the culprits to preserve civic and religious sanctity. Meanwhile, the church clergy warned against political hooliganism aimed at undermining democratic discourse.
Meanwhile, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) criticized opposition leaders, including El-Rufai, Atiku Abubakar, and Peter Obi, accusing them of failing to provide effective party leadership and focusing instead on blame games and power struggles.
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