Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, a former governor of Sokoto condition, has bemoaned the condition of Nigerian politics, claiming that current politicians are more focused on vying for power than on serving the interests of the general public.
Bafarawa bemoaned the breakdown of genuine opposition politics in Nigeria in an interview with BBC Hausa on Sunday, pointing out that high-profile politicians’ defections from opposition groups to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) were motivated solely by self-interest.
“There is no real opposition anymore. Everyone in the opposition is only concerned about personal gain. Once they get what they want, the idea of opposition disappears, and the masses are left to fend for themselves.”
According to Bafarawa, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain until his retirement on January 13, 2025, Nigerian politicians no longer genuinely care about the average citizen.
“Today’s so-called opposition is every man for himself. They ask themselves: ‘What can I gain?’ If one door closes to them, they shamelessly find another way, without any fear or shame,” he said.
“The politics I know is not what is happening today. The politics I know is about fighting for the interest of the masses — to ensure they have a good life in all areas such as education, water, healthcare, and more. I have been in politics for the past 48 years,” he said.
He claimed that both political aspirants and the general populace are lost and characterized the political climate as one of bewilderment and selfishness.
“Because of this, there is confusion both for the seekers and those being sought after. The seekers are blinded; they have no faith or compassion. Their only goal is to secure positions. Meanwhile, the masses are blinded by hunger, poverty, and ignorance, so everything is in disarray,” Bafarawa added.
The former governor also warned that the future of the region is in jeopardy due to the startlingly high percentage of youth illiteracy, particularly in Northern Nigeria.
“Whenever you defeat a people with ignorance by denying them education, you have finished them. Here in the North, honestly, about 70% of our youth have no education. How can a country or region develop without education?” he questioned.
Bafarawa defended low-income voters who accept cash during elections, arguing that they have few options due to the hard economic reality they must deal with.
“If you blame the poor masses for accepting money on election day to vote, it’s not entirely their fault. They have been impoverished; they have no jobs, no means of livelihood. What else are they supposed to do?” he said.
He asserts that Nigeria’s current problems can only be resolved by divine intervention.
