At a birthday event for former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi in Abuja, well-known scholar Dr. Chidi Amuta gave a strong warning about Nigeria’s growing problem with poverty.
In his speech called “Democracy and the Republic of Poverty,” Dr. Amuta shared shocking facts: 75 percent of people in rural areas live in poverty, and over 41 percent of people in cities are also poor. This is twice as many as five years ago.
He said, “Poverty is no longer just a number. It is now the biggest enemy of Nigeria. More than half of our people live in poverty.”
Dr. Amuta also criticized the political leaders for only talking about poverty without helping those who suffer. “We make poverty a topic for meetings, but for poor people, it is real pain,” he said.
He warned that poverty causes more crime and violence because people have no hope. “We spend more money on guns than on schools and hospitals. That is not safety—it is giving up,” he added.
Dr. Amuta also said that Nigeria’s politicians only care about themselves and a small group of rich people. “Our democracy is for the few, while most Nigerians suffer,” he said.
He believes the government’s policies are making poverty worse on purpose, to keep people quiet. “This is not just bad leadership. It is a plan to control the people by keeping them poor,” he said.
He ended his speech with a strong message: “We cannot build a good country when so many people are hungry and hopeless. True democracy needs a country where people have what they need to live.”
The speech was a serious call to action for Nigeria’s leaders and citizens. It showed that the country must face its poverty problem before it gets worse.
