“We Have Failed Nigerians” – Ex-Gov Fayemi Opens Up On Rising Banditry, Extreme Poverty, And His Presidential Ambition

Former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has candidly admitted that the Nigerian political class has failed the citizens, stating that extreme poverty is directly responsible for the rising wave of banditry and insurgency across the country.

Fayemi made these revelations during a recent appearance on the State Affairs podcast hosted by Edmund Obilo, where he discussed the state of the nation, his past presidential aspirations, and the sociological triggers of violence in Nigeria.

Speaking on the worsening security situation, the former governor lamented the high number of unemployed youths loitering the streets, noting that they have become easy targets for terrorist recruitment.

“We have so many young people who have no business being on the streets out there, and they become fodder for the cannon of the jihadists and the insurgents,” Fayemi stated.

When pressed by the host on whether the political class has failed the people despite his eight-year tenure as governor and his subsequent ambition to be president, Fayemi did not mince words.

“Well, clearly we have. We haven’t succeeded in realizing the ambition of the manifest destiny… of the Nigerian state,” he admitted. He acknowledged his ambition to become president was driven by a desire to fix the country but noted the glaring inequalities that continue to plague the nation.

Highlighting the stark contrast between the rich and the poor, Fayemi warned that as long as extreme poverty lies “astride unimaginable wealth,” the country will continue to witness a surge in criminal activities.

“Poverty is rising. So violence inevitably rises,” Fayemi explained. “I do not want to say that poverty is the cause of violence, but poverty is violence. Where there is poverty, there will be violence. It’s a reaction to poverty.”

He further stressed that it remains the fundamental duty of political leaders to find a lasting solution to bridge the widening gap between the rich and the poor.

Agreeing with the host that the dominant character of a state reflects its leadership, Fayemi concluded the session with a strong assertion: “Leadership defines society.”