ADO-EKITI—Aare Afe Babalola, founder of Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), has strongly criticized the Federal Government’s approach to distributing palliatives, arguing that it is pushing Nigerians into poverty and turning them into beggars. He voiced these concerns during a visit from the Prestige Sisters League to the ABUAD campus.
Babalola condemned the government’s strategy of distributing basic food items like garri, beans, and rice as palliatives, stating that this approach is not sustainable and discourages self-reliance. “The government is leading us to poverty by turning the people into beggars,” Babalola said. He emphasized that the government’s role should be to create an environment where people can work and sustain themselves, rather than relying on handouts.
Addressing the recent nationwide protests against hunger, Babalola expressed empathy for the protesters, acknowledging the widespread hunger and insecurity that have driven many Nigerians to despair. He pointed out that the failure of the government to provide a safe and conducive environment for farming has exacerbated the hunger crisis.
In addition to his criticism of the palliative measures, Babalola endorsed the Patriots’ call for a new constitution, advocating for the reenactment of the 1963 constitution rather than convening a new constitutional conference. He argued that the 1963 constitution, which was created through a collective national effort, should be reinstated by the National Assembly without the need for a new constitutional drafting process.
Babalola also referenced President Bola Tinubu’s recent decision to revert to the old National Anthem as an example of how the parliament can make significant changes without lengthy procedures, suggesting that a similar approach should be taken to bring back the 1963 constitution.
