President Tinubu’s comment that hunger has always existed in Nigeria is not convincing, and many Nigerians see it as an attempt to explain away a serious national problem. Hunger may be an old problem, but that does not make it less urgent. In fact, the whole point of leadership is to confront old problems and make life better for the people.
Today, many Nigerians are facing extreme hardship. Food prices are high, insecurity is affecting farming, and millions of families are finding it difficult to survive. In a situation like this, the president should be showing empathy and presenting solutions, not making statements that sound like excuses.
A good leader does not hide behind the fact that a problem existed before him. He takes responsibility and works to fix it. That is what Nigerians expect. They do not expect a lecture on the history of hunger. They expect action that will reduce hunger now.
If the government truly wants to win public trust, it must stop speaking as if suffering is normal. Hunger is not something to be accepted as part of life. It is a sign that something is wrong. When a government fails to ease it, people have every right to criticize that failure and vote them out at the next election.
Kingsley Chigbu, a retired chemical engineer and corporate executive, writes from California.
