“Nigerian Elites Don’t Understand Poverty” Emir Sanusi Speaks Truth to Power
In a bold and introspective address that pierced through Nigeria’s layers of political performance, the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, delivered a powerful message on the disconnect between the nation’s elite and the everyday struggles of the poor.
Speaking at a public lecture in Abuja themed “Weaponisation of Poverty as a Means of Underdevelopment: A Case Study of Nigeria”, the former CBN Governor turned traditional ruler did not mince words.
“Many of the elite in Nigeria do not know what poverty is. I was an economist. I was Governor of the Central Bank. I saw the numbers. But I did not truly understand poverty until I became Emir,” Sanusi said.
The lecture, held in honor of the 60th birthday of former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, became more than a celebration it turned into a moment of national reflection.
From Data to Dirt Roads
Sanusi recounted his experience of visiting rural communities and witnessing firsthand the appalling conditions under which millions of Nigerians live unsafe drinking water, crumbling classrooms without roofs, and healthcare that is either inaccessible or non-existent.
“We build overhead bridges in cities to ease elite traffic,” he said, “but in the rural areas, people can’t even reach a hospital. What kind of leadership is that? Do we love the people, or do we just love ruling over them?”
His remarks struck a chord, resonating deeply with a crowd increasingly disillusioned by a leadership class that appears detached from the country’s grassroots reality.
A Crisis of Priorities
Sanusi challenged economic managers and political leaders to embrace empathy and responsibility, stressing that genuine leadership cannot thrive in an environment where luxury for the few coexists with desperation for the many.
“We are in a crisis,” he said. “The question should no longer be, ‘How do we maintain power?’ but, ‘How do we get out of this mess?’”
El-Rufai and Yusuf Join the Call for Change
Also speaking at the event, former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, took aim at Nigeria’s electoral culture.
“We keep electing people who only know how to grab power but don’t know what to do with it,” he said. “The results are clear: stagnant development, wasted opportunities, and deepening poverty.”
In a similar tone, Prof. Usman Yusuf, former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, emphasized that many of the problems hospitals now face are not strictly medical.
“Bad governance, corruption, and social decay are the real diseases,” Yusuf said. “Until citizens take their responsibilities seriously and vote for what is right, we will continue to suffer.”
A Wake-Up Call for a Tired Nation
This event did more than highlight personal milestones it served as a wake-up call. Sanusi’s honesty, backed by the critical insights of El-Rufai and Yusuf, placed the spotlight on a political and economic system that uses poverty as a tool, not a problem to be solved.
In a nation where millions survive on less than a dollar a day, and political leaders still fly private jets to sign budgets meant for the poor, the call for authentic, people-centered leadership has never been more urgent.
Reference
“Nigerian Elites Don’t Understand Poverty” Emir Sanusi Speaks Truth to Power