THE WEAPONISATION OF POVERTY BY NIGERIAN POLITICIANS – By Olayinka Olatunbosun, Ph.D

In modern democratic societies, poverty is often seen as a social challenge to be solved. In Nigeria, however, it has become something far more sinister: a political tool. Across decades of failed leadership, corruption, and institutional decay, poverty has been quietly converted into a potent weapon—deliberately sustained, strategically deployed, and ruthlessly exploited by the political class to control, manipulate, and retain power.

In many parts of Nigeria, politics is no longer about ideas, vision, or development. It is about survival. A hungry and struggling population is more vulnerable to manipulation. For politicians who fear accountability or are unwilling to govern effectively, poverty becomes a convenient instrument.

During election seasons, communities that have been denied basic infrastructure suddenly come alive with the distribution of rice bags, salt, noodles, wrappers, and meagre cash. These acts, instead of solving long-term problems, reinforce a cycle of dependency. The message is simple: vote for us today, and we will feed you tomorrow.

This dependency is not accidental—it is intentionally cultivated. When citizens are impoverished, they are less likely to resist oppression, question leadership, demand accountability, or hold elected officials responsible.

Nigeria is blessed with vast natural and human resources, yet it remains home to one of the largest populations of poor people in the world. Unemployment levels remain high; inflation is crippling households; public schools and hospitals are failing; and millions barely survive on irregular menial work.

Successive governments have promised to lift citizens out of poverty but have done little beyond speeches and slogans. Many social intervention programmes are politicised, poorly executed, or hijacked by political actors. Instead of being tools for upliftment, they become rewards for party loyalists and instruments of political patronage.

The weaponisation of poverty is most visible during elections. Vote buying—now an entrenched feature of Nigerian politics—is the clearest evidence that poverty is being systematically exploited.

At polling units across the country, political agents offer as little as ₦1,000 to ₦5,000, food items, or promises of temporary jobs. For millions who live on the brink of hunger, this becomes tempting—even logical—because the system has denied them opportunities to rise above poverty.

Sadly, the 4-year consequences of bad leadership far outweigh the 5-minute gain of election-day inducements.

Why the Cycle Persists

The cycle continues because:

• Weak institutions fail to hold politicians accountable.

• Illiteracy and unemployment leave citizens desperate.

• Corruption diverts funds meant for development into private pockets.

• Citizens’ distrust in the system leads many to “take whatever they can get.”

• Politicians prioritize power over governance, creating a deliberate environment of lack.

In this environment, poverty becomes not a problem to solve but a resource to exploit.

The weaponisation of poverty is not an abstract idea—it has real consequences. It means:

• Children dying in hospitals without drugs.

• Families trekking kilometres because there are no roads or transport.

• Youths abandoning dreams due to lack of opportunities.

• Elderly citizens living without dignity.

• Communities destroyed by insecurity, yet abandoned by those in power.

Poverty becomes a silent violence inflicted daily on millions—an unending punishment for trusting leaders who never intended to help them.

THE WAY FORWARD

Breaking this cycle requires more than anger. It demands deliberate action:

1. Strong institutions that prosecute vote buying and corruption.

2. Education and empowerment to equip citizens with knowledge and independence.

3. Economic reforms that prioritize job creation and long-term development.

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4. Active civic participation, where citizens engage beyond election day.

5. Youth political awakening, breaking the old guard’s monopoly on power.

Nigeria cannot progress if its citizens remain deliberately impoverished. True democracy thrives when people are economically free, informed, and empowered to choose leaders based on competence—not crumbs.

CONCLUSION

Nigeria’s greatest tragedy is not that it is poor, but that its poverty is intentionally sustained. The political class has mastered the art of using deprivation as a tool of control. Until citizens recognize this strategy and resist it collectively, the cycle will continue.

The weaponisation of poverty is not just a political issue—it is a moral one. A nation that keeps its people poor to stay in power has lost its soul. And until that soul is reclaimed, meaningful change will remain out of reach.

Dr. Olatunbosun was the Labour Party Candidate in Ife East Local Government for the Osun State House of Assembly election in 2023.