Before the Poor Rise: Why Nigeria’s Elite Must Reverse Course Now By Abdulkadir Ibrahim

Across our nation today, there is an unmistakable sense of despair. The rising cost of living, unemployment, and poverty have created a toxic mix of anger and hopelessness. The ordinary Nigerian — once famed for resilience and optimism — is now losing faith not just in government, but in the entire system that defines our national life. The judiciary no longer commands confidence, law enforcement is seen as compromised, and even the most patriotic are struggling to find reasons to believe.

The situation is dire. Inflation has stripped the average income of meaning. Families can barely afford food, rent, or school fees. Youths, who should be the engine of innovation and progress, are trapped in a cycle of joblessness and frustration. The streets and online spaces are filled with voices of disillusionment — voices that grow louder by the day.

We, the Nigerian elite — in business, politics, religion, and the professions — must pause and reflect. For too long, we have operated in silos, protected by privilege and comfort, ignoring the simmering anger of the masses. We have built walls around ourselves while poverty and hunger have built bridges among the deprived. History teaches us that no society can sustain such imbalance indefinitely.

When people lose faith in institutions and feel excluded from opportunity, they begin to question the legitimacy of the system itself. And when the system is perceived as unjust, rebellion becomes inevitable — not because the people are wicked or violent, but because survival demands resistance.

We must not wait for that day.

The time has come for a deliberate national reset — one driven not by slogans, but by sincerity and courage. We must reform our institutions to make justice accessible and credible. Law enforcement must be reoriented to serve, not subjugate. Economic policies must prioritize inclusion and human dignity over elite comfort. Access to capital must be democratized so that small businesses and young innovators can thrive.

The private sector, too, must rethink its role. It is not enough to sponsor conferences or donate food packs during crises. The real solution lies in creating sustainable livelihoods — through mentorship, investment in startups, fair wages, and genuine corporate responsibility that uplifts communities rather than exploits them.

The political class must also embrace humility. Leadership is not about self-preservation; it is about stewardship. The legitimacy of power comes from the people, and when their faith is broken, power loses meaning.

If we continue to ignore the cries of the poor, we will face consequences far beyond protests and online outrage. Desperation breeds disorder, and history is replete with examples of once-complacent elites swept away by the anger of the forgotten.

We must therefore reverse course — not out of fear, but out of wisdom. Our survival as a nation, and as a class, depends on how quickly we can bridge the widening gulf between privilege and poverty.

Nigeria still has a window of redemption. Let us seize it before the masses, weary of speeches and suffering, decide to take their destiny into their own hands.