Former Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, reveals shocking stories of Nigerians calling him 30 times in a day for N3,000, exposing the worsening poverty rate in the country. He warns that economic hardship is fueling vote trading and desperation. Read more!
Former Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, has raised concerns over the alarming poverty rate in Nigeria, revealing distressing encounters that highlight the dire economic situation of many citizens.
Speaking during an interview on Africa Independent Television (AIT), Shittu lamented how poverty rate has led to the monetisation of elections and widespread vote trading, as struggling Nigerians prioritize immediate financial relief over long-term governance impact.
Shittu narrated a personal experience to illustrate the level of desperation among Nigerians. According to him, he received over 30 calls in one day from a woman pleading for just N3,000, an amount he admitted he did not have at the time.
“Yesterday, before I left home in Ibadan, someone called me from Bauchi, begging for N1,000. He said he had not eaten for two days,” Shittu recounted.
“A week ago, another person called, desperately asking for N3,000. Shockingly, at that moment, I didn’t even have that amount to give. She called me 30 times in one day, pleading for assistance.”
Shittu emphasized that such incidents underscore how poverty rate has left many Nigerians in survival mode, making them vulnerable to financial inducements during elections.
“When you go to such people to ask for their votes or support, they don’t care about your capacity or policies. What they are interested in is what they can get from you immediately,” he stated.
When asked if it was possible for a former minister not to have N3,000, Shittu responded by clarifying that former ministers do not receive salaries after leaving office. He also stressed that he did not enrich himself while in government, unlike some public officials accused of looting public funds.
Shittu, who served as Minister of Communications from 2015 to 2019 under the Muhammadu Buhari administration, was previously a member of the Oyo State House of Assembly and the governorship candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the 2011 elections.
His comments add to the growing concerns over Nigeria’s economic downturn, unemployment, and rising inflation, which have left many citizens struggling for survival.
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