Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has lamented the growing dependence on money in political and social mobilisation, arguing that even efforts to engage citizens on their rights and freedoms are often undermined by immediate financial expectations.
In a statement posted on his verified X handle on Thursday, August 21, 2025, Sani described the prevailing attitude of many poor Nigerians when invited to public discussions about governance and their condition.
“When you invite and gather the masses to talk to them about their situation, their rights, their oppressors and their freedom, you also have to make some money available for them to solve some of their immediate personal problems,” he wrote.
The senator noted that without such financial support, many in attendance lose interest, becoming restless, drowsy, or even walking out, dismissing the engagement as a “waste of time with dry talk.”
He added that the perception among ordinary Nigerians that political discussions repeat familiar messages has deepened the challenge, saying: “Tragically, you have to pay the oppressed to unlock his chains.”
Sani warned that the entrenched role of money in Nigerian politics will be difficult to remove, observing that even students’ union activities have increasingly taken on a materialistic character.
The former lawmaker’s remarks add to ongoing debates about voter inducement, political awareness, and the struggle to build a culture of civic responsibility free from financial incentives.
Credit: @ShehuSani via X.
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