Prominent activist Aisha Yesufu has accused Nigerians of enabling corruption and election rigging, declaring that the nation’s 220 million citizens are not helpless victims but active participants in the system’s failures.
In a post shared on her official X account on Friday, Yesufu rejected the widespread belief that Nigeria’s problems are purely institutional, arguing that citizens play a central role in sustaining corruption.
“Dear Nigerians, I just want to tell you that we are not 220 million helpless people. We are 220 colluding people. No rigging can happen without our support,” she wrote.
She criticised Nigerians who rely solely on prayers instead of civic engagement, saying, “We are the ones who have refused to engage, waiting for God to do it all for us! Oshe prayer warriors!!!!!”
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According to her, corruption and manipulation in the electoral process thrive because ordinary citizens within the system—INEC staff, security personnel, and judiciary officials—willingly compromise their roles.
“INEC is not the problem. The people in INEC are the problem, and they are among the 220 million people,” she said, stressing that no electoral chairman can rig an election without the collusion of those working under him.
Yesufu listed groups responsible for aiding electoral manipulation, including family members, friends, and community figures who turn a blind eye to injustice or directly participate in it.
“These people are our brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, children, cousins, neighbours, church members, fellow mosque worshippers, work colleagues, etc. Let us begin to warn each other to not rig or allow rigging,” she urged.
The activist extended her criticism beyond INEC, accusing institutions like the judiciary, police, and military of being compromised by individuals who misuse their authority.
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“The judiciary is not the problem; the people in the judiciary are the problem. The police are not the problem; the people in the police are the problem. The military is not the problem; the people in the military are the problem,” she added.
Yesufu ended her message with a call for active participation in the 2027 elections, warning that voting without defending the results amounts to political passivity.
“Unless you vote and defend your vote and ensure it is counted for your candidate, what you did is not voting but paper painting,” she declared.
Her post triggered massive reactions online, with many Nigerians expressing mixed feelings over her remarks.
One user, @john_olaiya, agreed with her stance, saying, “Systems don’t rig elections — people do. Until Nigerians stop aiding corruption in small corners, the big thieves will keep winning.”
Another user, @winner961582, blamed religious leaders for deceiving citizens into passivity, noting that they “negotiate for their family members to be appointed into various government parastatals” while urging followers to keep waiting on God.
However, some respondents disagreed with Yesufu’s position, arguing that citizens alone cannot bear the burden of systemic failures in a country where institutions are weaponised by those in power.
“Yes, people are the problem,” wrote @Odihi1, “but you know we cannot really separate these people from the offices they represent.”
Despite the backlash, many agreed that Yesufu’s post highlights a growing frustration among Nigerians who believe that lasting change must begin with citizens rejecting complicity and demanding accountability from leaders.
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