Adebayo Shittu, the former minister of communication, has voiced concern over the shockingly high rates of poverty in the country, claiming that many Nigerians have turned to begging. Shittu gave examples of how Nigeria’s economic circumstances have pushed its people into a position of dependency during his appearance on the AIT show “Focus Nigeria” on Tuesday.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
The former minister, who lives in Ibadan, described how he received a call from someone in Bauchi asking for ₦1,000 to buy food. According to Naija News, Shittu also stated that a woman had called him thirty times asking for ₦3,000, which he said he didn’t have at the time.
He claimed that poverty has been used as a tool in the nation, pointing out that when politicians campaign for votes, the public frequently gives more weight to the material advantages they promise than to their own qualities and capabilities. “Someone called me from Bauchi yesterday before I left Ibadan and begged me for N1,000,” Shittu stated.He claimed to have gone two days without eating. Once more, almost a week ago, I received a call from a woman requesting N3,000. The woman contacted me thirty times in a single day when she needed the money, even though I didn’t have it at the time.
“It’s not my business to douse the poverty of such people calling,” the former minister continued. They therefore don’t care what you are capable of doing when you approach them to solicit their support or votes. What they can obtain from you now is what interests them.
However, contrary to Nigerians’ views of political appointees, the former minister, who served in the Muhammadu Buhari government from 2015 to 2019, claimed that he does not currently have financial resources because he did not commit corruption while in office. He said that for politicians who upheld their ethics while in service, life after holding a political position can be challenging.
Shittu stated that he depends on his 10 graduate children’s monthly support to cover his living expenses.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
