Yuletide Celebrations: FFRC Condemns Weaponization of Hunger and Hollow Philanthropy of Political Office Holders Amidst Rising Costs of Food and Other Basic Items

We Call for Massive and Consistent Investments by Governments in Agriculture and Social Sectors Under Democratic Control of the Working People

The Food and Farmers’ Rights Campaigns (FFRC) condemns the weaponization of mass hunger by the Tinubu-led APC government capitalist politicians amidst worsening social and economic hardship in the country. The hardship is induced by the failure of the iniquitous capitalist system in a neo-colonial economy and the Tinubu administration’s subscription to the IMF and World Bank prescribed anti-poor and workers’ policies including fuel subsidy removal, devaluation of the naira, increase electricity tariffs, hike school fees, excessive tax and levies, among others. The FFRC calls for a total reversal of all anti-poor and anti-workers capitalist policies.

Similarly, we reject the ongoing hollow and hypocritical exhibitions of philanthropy by political office holders and self-styled business moguls. They are only cashing in on the chronic and pervasive poverty in the face of rising costs of basic food items and high cost of living expenses exacerbated by the yuletide celebrations.

In other words, they are taking undue advantage of the desperate and dire conditions of needy households, who could barely afford three square meals per day, and don’t know where and when the next meal would come from, to ‘freely’ distribute tokenistic food items and cash handouts to them. These acts of seeming magnanimity are devoid of genuine or altruistic intentions, as they are staged to give cover to glaring governments’ failures and most especially to secure the loyalty of these vulnerable citizens in preparation for the next election cycles. While the FFRC does not call on the poor households to reject such gifts, we frown upon such hollow philanthropy amidst abundant human and material resources the country is richly endowed with.

We take cognizance of the historic significance of the Yuletide celebrations, especially by religion adherents obeying doctrines and teachings which enjoin them not just to love one another, but to show same practically by helping the needy materially among their folds, especially during times like this. However, we find it unjustifiable, and uncharitable that the same political office holders and their business collaborators that are implementing anti-poor capitalist policies, that have pauperized the working people and poor majority, are the same people now patronizing their hunger and poverty condescendingly through food and cash handouts under the guise of Yuletide celebration.

For us at the FFRC, we believe that Nigeria as country is rich enough, both in material and human resources, to guarantee better life in abundance for all, including meeting the basic necessities of citizens, if only societal resources are properly planned, democratically managed, and equitably distributed. This would entail massive investments of public fund in agriculture to ward off hunger, mass decent housing scheme for affordable rents, quality education, constant electricity with low tariffs, health care delivery, youth employment among others. This way, there will be no need for anybody to engage in shallow display of philanthropy, as everyone would have been provided with the means of earning their bread through gainful employment in addition to publicly funded social program. That some self-styled ‘public spirited’ individuals now engage in acts of philanthropism cum empowerments doling out food, cash handouts and other items amidst worsening economic hardships, only shows the limits of capitalism and failures of anti-poor capitalist policies  being implemented by the Tinubu administration and other before him.

Therefore, FFRC reiterates its calls for the complete reversal of all anti-poor, pro-rich policies of governments at all levels. We also call for an immediate halt of the tax reforms policy billed to commence on January 1st, 2026. In any event, to expect the Tinubu’s government to backtrack on these policies without struggle and resistance through mass actions by the populace, will be wishful thinking. We urge the NLC, TUC, the civil society groups, JAF and other mass organizations to commence the process through mass mobilization. Furthermore, this should be linked with the question of a mass working people political alternative, with a rounded socialist programme, including public ownership of the commanding heights of economy, under the democratic management and control of workers and relevant professional bodies. This way, resources currently trapped and corruptly taken by a few would be freed to meet needs of all.

Eko John Nicholas

National Coordinator Food and Farmers’ Rights Campaigns (FFRC)