Published by Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, Chief Ayiri Emami, has set off a fresh wave of public anger after he dismissed the pervasive hunger in Nigeria as a global phenomenon and suggested that citizens who complain are simply unwilling to work. In remarks made in a viral video, Emami defended his position by referencing former President Muhammadu Buhari's infamous declaration that many Nigerians are "lazy."
"They are always complaining about hunger. There is hunger all over the world. Like Buhari said, Nigeria has too many lazy people; they don't want to work," Emami was quoted as saying. The comment has been described by critics as a tone-deaf and callous dismissal of the crippling economic realities facing millions of citizens, coming at a time when the cost of basic food items has skyrocketed and a severe food crisis looms.
Chief Emami is a well-known businessman and political figure in the South-South, with vast interests in the oil, gas, and hospitality sectors.
His financial insulation has led many to accuse him of being out of touch, arguing that a billionaire cannot comprehend the desperation of a father who can no longer afford a bag of rice. The remark also directly echoed the divisive 2018 statement by former President Buhari, who at a Commonwealth Summit in London claimed that Nigerian youths were "lazy" and entitled due to the country's oil wealth.
The APC chieftain's comments have prompted a furious reaction on social media, where many have pointed out the contradiction in his own political analysis.
Observers have noted that this latest outburst appears to be a complete reversal of his July 2024 position, where he had correctly blamed "bad governance" for the nation's poverty and had called on state governors to do more with increased federal allocations.
Civil society organizations have condemned the statement, describing it as "an insult to the memory of those who die daily from malnutrition."
They pointed out that Nigeria faces a significant food crisis, with many families being forced to cut meals, while the global hungers he referenced does not erase the government's primary duty to its citizens. Opposition parties have also seized on the remarks, accusing the APC of fostering a culture of elitist insensitivity, while the presidency has yet to issue an official response.
As the 2027 election cycle heats up, Emami’s controversial remarks are likely to be used by the opposition to highlight what they describe as the ruling party's growing disconnect from the suffering masses. For the millions of Nigerians who work from sunrise to sunset as petty traders, artisans, and farmers only to still struggle to feed their families, the label of "lazy" is a particularly bitter pill to swallow.
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