The Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Council, Senator Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari, has denied describing Nigerian youths as lazy, dismissing reports circulating in sections of the media and on social media as a distortion of his remarks at the party’s rally in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Yari issued the clarification in a statement signed by a former governorship aspirant in Zamfara State, Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, following public reactions to his comments at the rally held at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on Friday.
The former Zamfara State governor had reportedly said hunger in Nigeria was not caused solely by the government but was also linked to laziness among Nigerians.
“You are hungry because you are lazy. If you work hard, you will not be hungry,” Yari said.
However, Shinkafi maintained that Yari’s remarks were focused on hunger, food availability and the rising cost of living, noting that he acknowledged the economic challenges facing Nigerians when he said, “we have hunger.”
According to the statement, Yari subsequently discussed the availability of food in markets and the importance of hard work in enabling individuals and families to provide for themselves.
Shinkafi insisted that Yari did not mention or specifically refer to Nigerian youths, arguing that reports suggesting he described young people as lazy misrepresented his comments.
He urged Nigerians to watch the full, unedited video of the Uyo rally to understand the context of the former governor’s remarks.
The statement also acknowledged the economic difficulties confronting many Nigerian households, stressing that Yari’s comments were not intended to dismiss the hardship experienced by citizens.
The clarification comes amid public criticism and debate over the remarks, with calls for political leaders to be sensitive to the economic realities facing young Nigerians.
Shinkafi urged media organisations and commentators who reported that Yari called Nigerian youths lazy to review the complete footage and correct any inaccurate reports.
He added that Nigerian youths deserved meaningful discussions about employment, skills development and economic opportunities rather than statements taken out of context.
