Poverty In Nigeria Scary, Terrifying, Says Olanipekun

Legal icon, Chief Wole Olanipekun, (SAN) has described the Nigerian economic situation as challenging, calling on the wealthy people to show sympathy and assist the poor and the less privileged.

Olanipekun noted that many people across the globe are presently facing hard times and conditions in different dimensions from economic, political security, socio-cultural, health among others.

The senior lawyer said the situation then beckons to those who have received God’s benevolence to also tap from God’s attribute of compassion by lending helping hands to their fellow human beings.

He spoke in his Ikere Ekiti country home during the Wole Olanipekun Foundation (WOF) 27th Scholarship Award Scheme and 4th Empowerment Programme at the weekend.

The chairman of the WOF Board, Prince Feyi Ogoji, said scholarships were given to 250 secondary school, university and law school students, 100 youths were empowered, 100 aged and widows gifted grants and 600 others received palliatives for the year while over 4,000 persons have benefitted from the initiative since its incept in 1996.

Olanipekun who explained that the development is causing tension, unrest, anxiety, pressure, confusion, hatred, anguish, pain, distress and transferred aggression among many people said  “the situation in Nigeria is much more challenging,  cognisance being  taken of our very peculiar and uninspiring economic situation over the years, coupled with the burden of insecurity that we have faced for over a decade now.

“The poverty level in Nigeria today is not just scary but also terrifying, as over 70 percent of Nigerians rudderless, poverty stricken”.

“Let us do what will benefit the ordinary man, how to lift souls. The essence of today centers around how do we add value to humanity and to me  that is the essence of living. And I said it, to those of us who may think they have made it and so they felt they are okay, but we are not okay, because anger, noise and distress of our hungry neighbours who can’t sleep will not allow you to sleep.

“There is transferred aggression by the common people in Nigeria and that is what the nation has to address. We are in a situation where almost 70 percent of people who are rudderless and poverty stricken.

Another 20 percent out of the remaining 30 percent are losing their jobs, the remaining, 

10 percent felt they were okay but that they were not. That is why we have to show sympathy, empathy, care, love, kindness to one another and lift up people.”

The Senate Leader, Sen. Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, described Olanipekun as a celebrated citizen of Nigeria, a hero of Nigeria, with a good heart with strength of character, thanking him for his dedication to his community in all ramifications. 

Bamidele, who was the chairman of the ceremony, said that Olanipekun’s integrity and consistencies as  a role model has brought different personalities to him at all times.