Activist Aisha Yesufu has asserted that hunger and poverty in Nigeria are being intentionally used as weapons—tools designed to weaken the populace and curb their ability to think critically.

On X, Yesufu shared that the pervasive hunger has pushed many Nigerians to the brink of survival, leaving them little room to participate in politics or hold their leaders accountable.

She explained that this situation has created a society in which those who are not hungry must think and act not just for themselves, but also for those who have lost the strength or opportunity to do so.

“Hunger that is deliberately inflicted has made many lose their capacity to think,” she said, adding that poverty has become “a cancer that has eaten up the very soul of our society.”

Yesufu criticized the political leadership for deepening poverty, accusing them of offering only temporary relief measures during election seasons. She contended that these measures are fleeting and mainly aimed at winning votes rather than tackling the root causes.

She urged Nigerians who enjoy economic stability to unite and act as the “soul and conscience of the nation,” encouraging them to consciously stand up for the country’s future.

“Nigeria has everything it needs to be great,” Yesufu said, emphasising the need to confront hunger and revive what she described as the nation’s weakened spirit.

“We must unlock the spirit that has been starved the Nigerian can-do spirit.”