No One Is Fighting For Nigerians – Ex- Minister, Oyelese Slams Political Parties

A former Minister of Power and Steel, Wole Oyelese, has accused political parties in the country of failing to prioritise the welfare of the masses, declaring that no group is genuinely championing the interests of ordinary Nigerians.

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Oyelese said the continued neglect of citizens amid worsening economic hardship amounts to “sitting on a moral volcano” that must not be allowed to erupt.

In a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday, April 8, the former minister lamented what he described as a disconnect between political actors and the people they claim to represent.

“Across party lines and ideological divides, one painful reality stands out today: no one is truly fighting for the masses of this country. No political party has put consideration of the masses on the front burner, beyond rhetoric,” he said.

Oyelese accused members of the political elite of focusing on personal gains and power struggles at the expense of the grassroots.

According to him, political actors are preoccupied with “self-aggrandisement, internal power struggles, and elite consensus,” while deliberately neglecting “the grassroots where the real Nigeria resides.”

He added that ordinary Nigerians have been left to bear the brunt of economic hardship resulting from “mismanagement and poor governance.”

‘Hardship Now A Permanent Companion’

The former minister warned that the situation has worsened to the point where suffering has become normalised among citizens.

He said, “Hardship has become a permanent companion” for many Nigerians, cautioning that continued neglect of the populace could trigger unintended consequences.

Oyelese stressed that ignoring the plight of citizens does not lead to immediate collapse but could gradually destabilise society.

“When the pains of the people are consistently ignored, society does not collapse overnight; it quietly reorganises,” he said. “The masses may be scattered, but they are not powerless.”

While warning of the dangers, Oyelese clarified that his remarks were not an incitement to disorder but a caution grounded in historical realities.

“A nation remains strong only when its people feel seen, valued, and included,” he noted.

“This is not a threat to the state, nor a call to unrest. It is a warning drawn from history and reason that persistent neglect of the masses carries grave implications for social cohesion and national stability.”