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Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, former Emir of Kano and ex-CBN Governor, has reflected on how his ascension to traditional leadership opened his eyes to Nigeria’s deep poverty, saying many elites remain clueless about the country’s harsh realities.
  • Sanusi said he only truly understood poverty after becoming Emir.
  • He criticised Nigerian elites for neglecting rural communities.
  • Themed lecture focused on how poverty is used as a tool of oppression.
  • El-Rufai and Prof. Usman Yusuf also condemned poor leadership and corruption.
At the 60th birthday lecture of ex-Rivers Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Sanusi remarked, “As an economist, I saw the data. But I didn’t know poverty until I became Emir.” He described seeing schools without roofs and villagers drinking unsafe water, contrasting this with the city’s flyovers and infrastructure. “Do we love the people or just love ruling over them?” he asked.

Former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai added that “we keep recycling the worst leaders.” Meanwhile, Prof. Usman Yusuf said hospitals are overwhelmed with issues that stem more from poverty than illness, blaming corruption and voter apathy.

The event painted a grim picture of Nigeria’s socio-political condition, suggesting that unless citizens prioritise justice, empathy, and accountability, the cycle of poverty and misrule will persist.