Abdulaziz Yari, Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, has blamed laziness among Nigerians for the hunger and hardship facing many citizens.
Yari made the comment on Saturday during an APC presidential campaign rally in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he urged Nigerians to take personal responsibility for their economic conditions instead of blaming the government alone.
The former Zamfara State governor argued that people who work hard would be able to provide food for themselves, adding that unwillingness to engage in productive activities had contributed to the level of hunger in the country.
He maintained that Nigerians could overcome some of their financial difficulties through hard work and a greater commitment to activities that generate income.
Yari also expressed concern over what he described as a change in the attitude of young Nigerians towards work, particularly farming and other forms of manual labour.
According to him, Nigerians in the past were more committed to farming, with many people working on their farms during the day and returning home with enough food to eat.
He lamented that the situation had changed, claiming that some young people now avoid farming and vocational activities while spending much of their time on their mobile phones.
The APC chieftain further argued that some Nigerians had developed the habit of waiting for financial assistance instead of seeking opportunities to earn a living through productive work.
His remarks come amid growing concerns over the rising cost of food, economic hardship and the difficulty many Nigerian households face in meeting their basic needs.