A legal luminary and founder of Afe Babalola University, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) has criticised the federal government for distributing food palliatives, arguing that it is turning Nigerians into beggars.
Speaking during a visit from the Prestige Sisters League, Babalola expressed concern over the country’s worsening hunger and insecurity, noting that many have abandoned their farms out of fear.
He emphasised that the government’s duty was to ensure citizens’ welfare and called for the revival of the 1963 constitution to address the nation’s challenges.
“Those who are complaining about hunger are doing so sincerely. They are hungry. A hungry man can go to any length to show his anger.
“We do not need anybody to tell us that there is hunger in the country. The protest was genuine and the government should listen to them.
“The duty of the government is the welfare of the people. The problem we have now is that people cannot move freely.
“They have abandoned the farms. People are being killed in their farms and everybody wants to stay where they are safe. It is because the government has failed in this regard that we have hunger.
“It is wrong for the government to be sharing garri, beans and rice as palliatives. They are turning the people into beggars. The government that is giving the people rice and beans is leading us to poverty.
“The government is discouraging people from working, whereas, the government must provide an enabling environment for people to work and feed themselves,” he said.
Babalola agreed with the Emeka Anyaoku-led Patriots group that Nigeria needs a new constitution.
He said there was no need for a constitutional conference, adding that the National Assembly can simply re-enact and bring back the 1963 constitution.
“I read the publication of the Patriots visiting President Tinubu and I am in full agreement with them. We need a new Constitution. But I do not agree that we should go through any constitutional conference.
“Recently, you are aware that President Bola Tinubu asked us to go back to the old National Anthem; there was no conference for it before it was passed by the National Assembly and assented by the President.
“The 1963 Constitution was the one made by all of us. By the same token, the parliament should bring back the 1963 (constitution) and reenact it,” he said.