Post by John Okiyi Kalu (@JOK)

Don’t blame the hungry. Blame the system that turned hunger into a political weapon

Nigerians know that a bag of rice or ₦20,000 cannot sustain them for four years, but they must survive today before they can worry about tomorrow. They also know that the money used to buy that rice was, in many cases, stolen from public resources that belong to them.

Worse still, many of those they once believed were credible alternatives also failed to provide better leadership, looted public funds, and ultimately betrayed the people’s trust. Over the years, those in power have weaponized poverty and hunger, leaving many citizens with little choice but to accept whatever helps them survive. Many no longer even believe that the candidate they genuinely vote for will necessarily be declared the winner by INEC.

The people have lost trust not only in those currently in power but also in many who seek to replace them. They see corruption less as a matter of ideology than of opportunity, believing that too many politicians are simply waiting for their own turn to access public resources.

The day Nigerians become convinced that a new generation of leaders is genuinely different from the old, they will begin rejecting bags of rice in exchange for their votes. Until then, let the people do what they must to survive while hoping for better days ahead.

-JOK
03/08/2027

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