Frontline activist Aisha Yesufu has warned that hunger and poverty have been deliberately weaponized in Nigeria, describing them as tools used to weaken citizens and suppress critical thinking.
In a post on X, Yesufu said the widespread hunger has left many Nigerians struggling to survive, with little capacity to engage politically or hold leaders accountable. She noted that this condition has created a society where those who are not hungry must think and act not only for themselves but also on behalf of those who no longer have the strength or space to do so.
“Hunger that is deliberately inflicted has made many lose their capacity to think,” she said, adding that poverty has become “a cancer that has eaten up the very soul of our society.”
Yesufu accused the political leadership of entrenching poverty while offering temporary relief measures only during election periods. She argued that such interventions are short-lived and primarily aimed at securing votes rather than addressing the country’s structural problems.
The activist called on Nigerians who are economically stable to come together and serve as the “soul and conscience of the nation,” urging deliberate action to safeguard the country’s future. “Nigeria has everything it needs to be great,” she said, emphasizing the importance of confronting hunger and reviving what she described as the nation’s weakened spirit.
“We must unlock the spirit that has been starved—the Nigerian can-do spirit,” Yesufu added.
Her remarks come amid growing public concern over rising food prices, deepening poverty, and widespread economic hardship across the country. The activist’s statement underscores the urgent need for systemic solutions to hunger and poverty, warning that without decisive action, the cycle of deprivation will continue to limit the political and social agency of millions of Nigerians.
