‘Only lazy people are hungry in Nigeria’ — Apena of Egbaland

The Apena of Egbaland and Oluwo of Iporo-Ake, Chief Alani Bankole, has said Nigeria has enough economic opportunities for people willing to work, arguing that laziness is a major reason many Nigerians remain poor.

Bankole, who spoke on Wednesday during a media interaction, also blamed parents and the wider system for what he described as the declining culture of hard work among young Nigerians.

The 85-year-old traditional chief said children should be introduced early to productive activities and taught the dignity of labour, recalling that people of his generation often combined formal education with practical work.

“There are too many opportunities in Nigeria for us not to be hungry. Most people who are hungry today are lazy people,” he said.

Bankole also cited the biblical injunction on work, arguing that people should not expect to enjoy the proceeds of labour without contributing to society.

He criticised parents who, according to him, pamper their children instead of equipping them with skills that can help them create wealth.

The Egba chief said the emphasis should be on teaching young people how to generate income rather than simply giving them money.

“Teach people how to make money, don’t give them money. Salary jobs are only meant to eat. When you learn how to create wealth, you become rich,” he said.

However, Bankole acknowledged that Nigeria’s system of governance and economic structure also contribute to the challenges facing citizens.

He blamed the colonial legacy and successive governments for maintaining what he described as a faulty system that has encouraged oppression and limited opportunities.

“The system has encouraged a lot of nonsense. The system is responsible for our everyday calamity. Is it Tinubu that will go and farm for you?” he queried.

Bankole argued that the problem goes beyond the personality of any particular political leader, saying fundamental changes would remain difficult if the structures governing the country were not addressed.

He criticised the practice of requiring political leaders to select aides and appointees based on geographical representation rather than competence, saying such arrangements could prevent governments from assembling the most effective teams.

The traditional chief, who is the father of former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, called for a broader national conversation on Nigeria’s political and institutional structures.

According to him, simply replacing one administration with another may not bring fundamental change if the underlying system remains unchanged.

Bankole, a former National Chairman of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, also said the quality of governance is influenced by the structures and resources available to those entrusted with leadership.

“You can only give what you have,” he said, stressing the importance of institutional development and human capacity.

Asked about his advice to politicians ahead of the 2027 general elections, Bankole said he could not offer guidance on contemporary politics because, according to him, the style of politics being practised today differs significantly from what he experienced.

“No, I can’t advise them because I’m not used to this type of politics. When we were in politics, you couldn’t find me in any township at this time. I would take my campaign to rural and border areas.

“But today, you don’t see politicians go to anybody. I don’t know how they do it. They are practising a type of politics which I’m not used to, which I don’t know about. So that’s why I cannot, because when I was growing up, I didn’t go through this nonsense,” he stated.

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