Afe Babalola, founder of Afe Babalola University, criticizes the Nigerian government's distribution of food palliatives, arguing it turns citizens into beggars. He highlights the protests as genuine expressions of hunger and calls for an improved approach to addressing economic hardship and insecurity, advocating for a return to the 1963 constitution.
Afe Babalola, the esteemed founder of Afe Babalola University Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), has launched a stinging critique against the Nigerian federal government's strategy of distributing food palliatives to alleviate economic distress. Speaking on Thursday during a visit from members of the Prestige Sisters League to his university, Babalola described the government's approach as a misstep that merely exacerbates the problem.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) expressed concern over the recent wave of protests sparked by widespread hunger, asserting that these demonstrations reflect genuine distress among the populace. He highlighted the severity of the situation, noting that rampant insecurity has forced many to abandon their farms, thus aggravating food shortages.
Babalola argued that the government's solution of distributing basic food items like garri, beans, and rice is insufficient and counterproductive. "The government's current method of handing out palliatives is degrading and transforming our citizens into beggars," he remarked. He emphasized that true progress requires creating an environment conducive to self-sufficiency rather than merely providing temporary relief.
In addition to his critique of the palliative distribution, Babalola aligned himself with the Patriots group, led by Emeka Anyaoku, advocating for a new constitutional framework. He proposed that rather than convening a constitutional conference, Nigeria should reinstate the 1963 constitution to address systemic issues.
Babalola’s comments underscore a broader frustration with governmental strategies and call for a reevaluation of policies to foster genuine economic stability and growth.
