Misplaced Priority of the Nigerian Government – Otunba Babatunde Olushola Senbanjo

By Otunba Babatunde Olushola Senbanjo (BOS)

At a time when Nigerians are groaning under the crushing weight of hunger, insecurity, and economic hardship, it is both heartbreaking and infuriating to witness the increasing display of insensitivity by those entrusted with the mandate to lead. While families are struggling to afford a single meal per day, while mothers are helpless as prices of essential goods skyrocket, while fathers trek long distances in search of work, and while communities across the nation live in daily fear of kidnapping, banditry, and senseless killings, our leaders are busy distributing luxury vehicles as though the nation were swimming in abundance.

According to reports, on Monday in Abuja, state coordinators gathered to receive brand-new Toyota Land Cruisers, Hilux vans, and Hummer buses all in preparation for the 2027 presidential campaign. At a time when citizens are crying out for security, employment, healthcare, education, and basic survival, the priority of those in power is to fortify a political structure, not to fortify the lives of the people they claim to serve. Wonders shall never end indeed.

How do we justify such extravagance when millions can no longer afford a bag of rice? How do we applaud such wasteful spending when roads are death traps, hospitals are empty, schools are collapsing, and insecurity is ravaging communities from the North to the South? How can any leader in good conscience hand out fleets of luxury vehicles while the masses are wallowing in abject poverty?

What message does this send to the ordinary Nigerian? That their hunger is irrelevant? That their safety does not matter? Is politics more important than human life? This reckless prioritisation is a painful reminder of how far those in power have drifted from the very people they are meant to serve.

Leadership is not about flashy convoys or expensive vehicles. Leadership is about empathy, sacrifice, and a genuine commitment to uplifting the citizens. At a time like this, every kobo spent should reflect the urgent needs of the nation not the selfish ambitions of a few.

As 2027 approaches, Nigerians must open their eyes wide. We must reject any politics that values vehicles over human lives, politics that prioritise campaigns over communities, and politics that invests in luxury while the people sleep in darkness and fear. It is time to demand accountability. It is time to insist that our leaders feel the pain of the masses, not cushion themselves from it.

If this country is to move forward, we need leaders who think, act, and serve differently leaders who will channel every resource toward ending hunger, restoring security, rebuilding our economy, and giving Nigerians back their dignity. Anything less is a betrayal.