Former Communication Minister, Adebayo Shittu has spoken out against the high poverty rate in Nigeria, lamenting the dire economic situation that has left many citizens begging for basic necessities. Shittu, who served in the Muhammadu Buhari administration from 2015 to 2019, made these comments while appearing on an AIT program, Focus Nigeria. He highlighted how Nigeria’s economic struggles have deeply affected the lives of ordinary people, with many resorting to begging for survival.
During the interview, Shittu shared personal anecdotes to illustrate the severity of the situation. “Yesterday, before I left Ibadan, somebody phoned me from Bauchi and begged me for N1,000,” Shittu recounted. “He said he had not eaten for two days. Again, about a week ago, somebody also called me, a woman who wanted N3,000. At the time she wanted that money, unbelievably, I myself didn’t have that money, and the woman called me 30 times in one day.” These examples, he said, show the extent to which poverty has gripped the country.
Shittu also expressed concern over the political consequences of such widespread poverty. He argued that many Nigerians, when approached by politicians for votes, are more interested in immediate material gains than in the potential benefits of good governance. “It’s not my business to douse the poverty of such people calling,” he remarked. “So when you go to such people to ask for their votes or support, they don’t care what you’re capable of doing. What they are interested in is what they can get out of you today.”
The former minister further criticized the system, claiming that poverty had been “weaponized” in Nigeria to manipulate the electorate. According to him, this has created a situation where political support is often driven by what politicians can give to the people in exchange for their votes, rather than a genuine interest in improving the nation’s governance.
However, Shittu also addressed misconceptions about the financial status of political appointees. Despite being a former minister, he revealed that he did not amass wealth during his time in office. “I don’t have money because I didn’t steal while in office,” Shittu explained, refuting any notions that politicians accumulate wealth during their tenure. His honesty about his financial situation stood in stark contrast to common assumptions about the wealth of political figures.
Shittu continued by discussing the challenges faced by politicians who leave office without engaging in corrupt practices. “Post-political appointment life can be challenging for politicians who didn’t steal in office,” he admitted. The former minister emphasized that, unlike many of his colleagues, he was not able to secure financial stability from his time in government.
To support himself after leaving office, Shittu revealed that he depends on the financial assistance of his 10 children, all of whom are graduates. “I survive on the monthly allowance my 10 graduate children give me for upkeep,” he said.
