Former Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, has challenged assertions labeling Nigeria as the world’s poorest country, saying that such negative narratives undermine the country’s potential for positive change.
Addressing concerns at the National Spokespersons Summit organized by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations in Abuja, Aliyu emphasized the absence of street beggars in his hometown of Nupe land, highlighting the enduring values within Nigerian communities.
While acknowledging existing challenges, Aliyu questioned whether Nigeria truly lacks national values, pointing to the absence of beggars in certain regions as evidence of inherent values at the grassroots level.
In his words, “Honestly, I can tell you this from Niger State, I have not seen a beggar from the Nupe speaking area of Niger State, a beggar sitting on the street begging ditto Yoruba.
“So you see, it means that at the sublevel, we have some values but that has not transcended to be a national value. Sometimes, we say we have values for the respect of elders, values for honesty and co. If we have values for honesty, we will not be where we are as a country today.”
Disputing Nigeria’s reputation as the poverty capital of the world, Aliyu attributed the country’s struggles to the mismanagement of its abundant resources rather than inherent poverty.
He criticized elected leaders who fail to fulfill their promises and called for accountability to constituents, emphasizing the need for elected officials to engage with their communities and address pressing issues directly.
“Is it true that we are the capital of poverty? I don’t think so.
“I think what we have been doing was not harnessing our wealth properly to the extent that people can see. That is why I don’t blame anyone who goes to mortgage his four years for N200 or for two years for a sachet of indomie.
“Why? Because many of our elected leaders never go back or even if they do they only go to show off.
“Some people say give me, I won’t see you again. This narrative says we must find a way to make it and the only way to make it is to force those elected people to go back to their constituencies,” he said.
