Legal luminary Afe Babalola has criticized the Federal Government’s distribution of palliatives, describing it as a scheme to turn Nigerians into beggars.
Babalola, who is the founder of Afe Babalola University (ABUAD) in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, made these remarks while hosting the Prestige Sisters League during their thank-you visit to the university.
“Those complaining about hunger are doing so genuinely. They are truly hungry. A hungry person can go to great lengths to express their anger. We don’t need anyone to tell us about the hunger in the country. The protest was legitimate, and the government should heed their concerns,” he stated on Thursday.
“The government’s primary responsibility is the welfare of its citizens. The current issue is that people can no longer move freely. They have deserted their farms due to insecurity, with many being killed while working their lands, forcing everyone to seek safety. This failure on the government’s part has led to widespread hunger.
“It is wrong for the government to distribute garri, beans, and rice as palliatives. This approach is turning the population into beggars. By providing people with rice and beans, the government is leading us into poverty and discouraging work. Instead, the government should be creating an environment that allows people to work and provide for themselves.”
