Tinubu’s Campaign DG, Yari, Sparks Outrage With ‘Lazy Nigerians’ Hunger Remark

The Director-General of President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, has sparked controversy after describing Nigerians complaining about hunger as lazy people.

Yari argued that food remains available in markets across the country, insisting that hardworking Nigerians should have no reason to go hungry.

The former Zamfara State Governor made the remarks while addressing supporters at a political rally in Akwa Ibom State on Friday.

He maintained that the availability of food items in markets contradicts claims that Nigerians are experiencing hunger, arguing that anyone with money could still purchase food.

Addressing the crowd, Yari said, “Akwa Ibom people, where I come from, we have food in the market.

“I don’t know, in Akwa Ibom, is there anybody who took his money to the market and found out that there is no rice? Is there anybody who, with money in his pocket, went to the market to buy foodstuffs and said there is no foodstuff in the market?”

According to him, hunger should be defined by the absence of food in the market rather than people’s inability to afford available food items.

“If there is no food in the market, that is what we call hunger. But anyone who is not a lazy person will definitely have food on his table,” he added.

The APC campaign chief further insisted that Nigerians willing to work hard could provide food for themselves and their families, maintaining that foodstuffs remain available for purchase in markets.

His comments come amid persistent public concerns over the rising cost of food, inflation and the increasing cost of living, which have continued to put pressure on households across the country.