Shehu Sani Responds to Nyesom Wike’s Pledge to Remove Beggars from Abuja
Senator Shehu Sani recently offered his perspective following a declaration by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, who vowed to remove beggars from the streets of Abuja by Monday. Through a statement posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Sani addressed the broader implications of Wike's promise, shedding light on the complexities of poverty and social issues in Nigeria.
Comparison to Treating a Disease
In his response, Senator Sani drew a powerful analogy, comparing the act of removing beggars to concealing an illness instead of treating its root cause. According to him, while taking beggars off the streets may create the appearance of cleanliness and order, it fails to address the underlying issue of poverty that forces individuals into begging. Sani emphasized that the presence of beggars should not be seen as tarnishing Nigeria’s image but rather as a visible symptom of deeper socioeconomic problems.
Beggars as a Symptom of Poverty
Sani’s remarks underscore that beggars themselves are not the problem, but a reflection of the larger societal challenges of poverty, unemployment, and a lack of adequate social support systems. By focusing on removing beggars without addressing the conditions that push people into such desperate circumstances, the government is merely masking the issue rather than resolving it. The Senator likened this to hiding dirty laundry rather than washing it—implying that real solutions require addressing the root causes of poverty rather than just the symptoms.
A Call for Long-Term Solutions
The Senator's response serves as a call for more comprehensive and thoughtful solutions to Nigeria's poverty crisis. Instead of merely displacing beggars, Sani advocates for policies aimed at alleviating poverty, reducing unemployment, and providing social safety nets. Only by tackling these foundational issues can society truly move towards eliminating begging and improving the well-being of its most vulnerable citizens
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