Is It Still Not Time for the Poor to Breathe? -By Muhammad Umar Shehu

Voting the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) back into power is nothing short of inviting further disaster into the life of this nation. For nearly a decade, Nigerians have watched as the country sank deeper into economic misery, insecurity, corruption, and policy confusion. Every hope placed in the leadership has been crushed under the weight of poor decisions and empty promises.

What we are witnessing today is a country on its knees. The cost of living is unbearable. Food, fuel, transportation, rent, everything is out of reach for the average Nigerian. Meanwhile, the government carries on as though things are normal. Their children study abroad, they seek medical care overseas, and they live far above the suffering of the people they claim to serve.

Everywhere you go, there is pain. From the farmer in Zamfara who can no longer go to his farm due to insecurity, to the trader in Lagos struggling to pay rent, to the graduate roaming the streets of Port Harcourt jobless, the hardship is real and widespread. Yet, the same leaders who presided over this collapse are seeking to continue in office, using propaganda, division, and desperation to manipulate the electorate.

It is clear now more than ever this is not just about politics, it is about survival. The poor in this country have carried the weight of bad governance for far too long. We were told to be patient, to endure, to hope. But how much longer can people endure when their children sleep hungry, when hospitals have no drugs, when the future looks bleaker by the day?

Nigeria is a country of abundance. We have the people, the land, the resources, the minds. Yet we are being ruled as if we are helpless, as if we must settle for less. This country has become a shadow of what it should be and the blame lies squarely with those in power who have refused to lead with vision, competence, or compassion.

So I ask again, is it still not time for the poor to breathe?

We need to be deliberate about our choices. We must stop recycling leaders who have failed us. The next election must not be about tribe, religion, or sentiment. It should be about competence, character, and a clear plan to restore this country. We cannot afford to be emotional or careless anymore.

Measures should be taken by all Nigerians who believe in a better future to vote this incompetent government out. That is the first step in reclaiming the lost glory of our great country. If we get it wrong again, the consequences will be far worse than what we see today.

The time is now. Enough is enough.

Muhammad Umar Shehu

Wrote from Gombe and can be reached via umarmuhammadshehu2@gmail.com