In a recent video on Facebook, Primate Elijah Ayodele has commented on the ongoing approach to addressing economic hardship in Nigeria, particularly the distribution of food items and cash as palliatives. The cleric questioned the effectiveness of such measures, urging a shift toward sustainable empowerment and employment creation.
According to Ayodele, providing consumables like rice and cash may offer temporary relief but does not address the root causes of poverty and unemployment.
He stated: “He said that he want to distribute rice and uh as palative because of economic hardship and uh of course um giving money. It’s not ideal. You are just wasting the resources.”
The cleric argued that government intervention should prioritize long-term economic solutions rather than short-term relief efforts, which he described as inefficient use of public resources.
“Why not doing capacity building for people create employment for them? That rice will not help. It even it’s a waste for your government. It’s wasteful,” he said.
Ayodele further emphasized the need for structured economic planning and strategic direction in governance, insisting that policies must focus on sustainable development rather than temporary appeasement of citizens.
“Right? You have to you need directives,” he added.
He also made a direct reference to Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, advising against what he described as an unproductive approach to palliative distribution. He warned that such initiatives may not yield long-term benefits.
“Mama Remi Tinubu you may not like what I’m saying, but what you want to do is not resourceful. It’s not good. It won’t pay you,” he said.
Ayodele concluded by reiterating his criticism of palliative distribution strategies, describing them as ineffective political tools rather than genuine economic solutions.
“I call it a waste. Why? You are going to use to pacify people,” he stated.