Video: Poverty Isn't a Crime, It Could Be a Virtue of God - Senate President Akpabio Sparks Outrage Among Nigerians

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has ignited a firestorm of criticism with his recent statement that "poverty isn't a crime, it could be a virtue of God."

The controversial remark was made during a virtual interview with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) on April 23, 2025, while Akpabio was in Vatican City.

He was attending a significant event at Saint Martha House, a residence near St. Peter’s Basilica often used by ecclesiastical figures.

The setting underscored his engagement with religious themes, but his comments about poverty struck a nerve back home in Nigeria, where millions grapple with economic hardship daily.

Akpabio's statement marks a stark departure from his earlier stance in 2023, when he publicly expressed concern over Nigeria's escalating poverty and insecurity, as noted in a report by The Guardian Nigeria.

Back then, he called for unity and action to address these pressing issues.

However, his latest rhetoric has been interpreted by many as dismissive, suggesting that poverty might be a divine condition to be accepted rather than a systemic failure to be tackled.

This perspective has fueled anger among Nigerians, particularly when juxtaposed with the country's deep-seated inequalities.

According to a 2022 Oxfam International report, over 112 million Nigerians live in poverty, while the combined wealth of the nation’s five richest men could theoretically end extreme poverty nationwide.

The same report highlighted systemic failures, such as chronic underfunding of education and health—sectors that received just 6.5% and 3.5% of the national budget in 2012, respectively—leaving millions without access to basic services like clean water and schooling.

The reaction on X has been swift and scathing, with users lambasting Akpabio for being disconnected from the realities faced by ordinary citizens.

Many pointed to his history of tone-deaf remarks, such as his 2024 comment during an economic crisis, where he suggested that Nigerians protesting hunger should continue while he and others "keep eating," as reported by Daily Trust.

This pattern of insensitivity has only deepened public frustration. Nigerians on X have accused their leaders of perpetuating a system riddled with corruption and mismanagement, where the elite thrive while the majority suffer.

For instance, Oxfam noted that 10 million children are out of school, and women, who make up a significant portion of the rural workforce, are five times less likely to own land than men.

Akpabio’s remarks, in this context, have been seen as a mockery of the struggles of the poor, further eroding trust in a political class already viewed as out of touch with the nation’s pressing challenges.

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