Ladipo Johnson Blasts Tinubu Over Hunger Remarks, Says Government Cannot Shift Responsibility to Churches

A chieftain of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Ladipo Johnson, has strongly criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his recent comments on Nigeria’s worsening hunger crisis, describing the remarks as a disappointing reflection of the government’s approach to citizens’ welfare.

Johnson’s reaction followed President Tinubu’s reported comments during a meeting with members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, where the President reportedly stated that hunger had existed long before his birth and suggested that churches should continue supporting vulnerable Nigerians.

The former National Publicity Secretary of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) argued that such remarks fall short of the responsibility expected from the country’s highest office, insisting that tackling hunger remains a constitutional obligation of government.

Johnson Says Welfare of Citizens Is Government’s Constitutional Duty

In a statement released on Saturday, Johnson maintained that the Nigerian Constitution clearly places the responsibility for citizens’ welfare on the government, not religious institutions.

According to him, Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution states that the security and welfare of Nigerians shall remain the primary purpose of government.

He argued that directing struggling citizens toward churches for relief effectively shifts the burden of governance onto religious organizations that neither collect taxes nor control national resources.

“Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria explicitly states that ‘the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.’

“By shifting the fundamental burden of social welfare from the state to religious bodies, the President is declaring his own policies bankrupt. Faith-based organizations provide charity; they do not collect taxes, manage national resources, or dictate macroeconomic policy.”

‘Leaders Are Elected to Solve Problems, Not Explain Them Away’

Johnson further accused the Tinubu administration of showing insufficient empathy toward millions of Nigerians battling rising food prices and economic hardship.

He argued that explaining away the country’s food crisis as a long-standing problem or blaming population growth does not address the urgent needs of citizens.

According to him, elected leaders are expected to provide practical solutions to inherited challenges rather than justify their persistence.

“Dismissing severe systemic hardship as a mere historical inheritance or an unmanageable consequence of population growth shows a complete lack of empathy and statesmanship.

“Leaders are elected to solve complex, inherited problems, not to lament their existence.”

NDC Chieftain Questions Government’s Economic Strategy

Johnson also questioned the administration’s capacity to tackle inflation and improve food security, saying any admission of inability to influence economic conditions reflects weak governance.

He insisted that Nigeria requires leadership driven by data, sound economic planning and accountability instead of public statements that appear to distance the government from its responsibilities.

He further urged the Federal Government to abandon what he described as dismissive rhetoric and immediately roll out practical measures capable of easing the country’s food crisis.

“Claiming an inability to steer Nigeria’s economic and population trajectories is a public confession of administrative failure. It proves that this administration lacks the analytical capacity, data-driven approach, and strategic vision necessary to stabilize food inflation and secure the lives of everyday Nigerians.

“Nigeria requires executive leadership that embraces the buck stopping at the President’s desk. We call on the administration to pivot away from dismissive rhetoric and immediately present actionable, structural solutions to the acute food crisis ravaging our communities. Government must feed its policies with competence, rather than asking starving citizens to rely purely on hope.”

Growing Debate Over Government’s Response to Food Crisis

Johnson’s comments add to the growing political debate surrounding Nigeria‘s worsening cost-of-living crisis, with opposition figures and civil society groups continuing to demand stronger economic policies aimed at reducing food inflation and easing the burden on millions of households.

The exchange has further intensified discussions over the Federal Government’s responsibility in addressing hunger, poverty and the broader economic challenges confronting Nigerians.