₦airaland Forum

Rice is the most popular staple food in Nigeria. For some reason, rice has gained immense cultural and social significance. Most times, the price of rice is used to measure the progress made by an administration over time. Politicians ululate when the price of rice falls and take the glory. They can also deploy the availability and price of rice against an opponent. Rice has become an object of political brickbats.

Growing up, my civil servant family used to eat rice on Sundays during the military regime. It was a day to look forward to. Rice was made into jollof rice - a classy dish once associated with the elites. We also had rice and stew. Rice and beans never went wrong either. For the not-so-rich, concoction rice graced the table. Rice was that magical meal that could be transformed into many forms, stretching across class, culture, and occasion. From weddings to funerals, birthdays to casual family gatherings, no social event in Nigeria feels complete without rice.

As the reverence for rice grew among Nigerians, one clever but uneducated politician named Chief Lamidi Adedibu (now deceased) from Ibadan, Oyo State, was studying the “rice situation” in Nigeria in the 1990s. He soon saw Nigeria’s love for rice as a weakness that could be exploited for political gain and to secure the loyalty of the masses. Adedibu — the “King of Molete,” fondly known as “Baba” in those days, did not wait for elections. His house in Ibadan became something like a daily feeding centre. He fed thousands of people regularly with amala and gave them small amounts of cash. To many, the experience felt like biblical manna from heaven. It earned him immense political influence and popularity. He built a fiercely loyal grassroots army, if Adedibu asked them to vote for a candidate, they did. Adedibu became a mega kingmaker in Oyo politics, popularising what later became known as “Amala politics.”

The politics of “stomach infrastructure” is, in my view, a mockery of the Nigerian masses. It reminds me of the story of Esau, who sold his birthright to his brother Jacob for a bowl of stew. He sacrificed his future for a moment of satisfaction and pleasure. Isn’t that what the masses do when they accept rice and other cheap gifts from political actors in exchange for their votes?

At that point in Nigeria’s history, rice was not widely known as a political bait. Another politician, Ayodele Fayose, who attended the Polytechnic of Ibadan, appeared to have understudied Adedibu’s strategy. Nigerians are hungry, feed them first, tell them what they want to hear, and they will follow you. This played out clearly during the 2014 gubernatorial election in Ekiti State, a hotly contested race between the incumbent governor, Kayode Fayemi, and Fayose. While Fayemi campaigned on his record of building roads, schools, and civic infrastructure, Fayose took a different route. He argued, in simple terms, that you cannot expect a hungry man to appreciate a smooth road.

Rice was widely deployed as a political weapon to defeat Fayemi decisively. Fayose’s campaign brazenly distributed bags of rice, chickens, and cash directly to the people. The good people of Ekiti could hardly say no. They saw Fayose’s rice as salvation. The branded mini-bags of rice carried political messages that spread faster than fake news in the 21st century. In a shocking outcome, Fayose defeated the incumbent in all 16 local government areas. After the election, this approach became widely known as “stomach infrastructure”— a term Fayose himself proudly embraced.

The success of this rice strategy soon changed the face of politics in Nigeria. Every politician with deep pockets began investing in rice distribution. The more they shared, the more popularity they gained. To this day, election campaigns are often driven less by manifestos and more by material inducements. Politicians now add more “ingredients” to the rice, money, cooking supplies, propaganda, rigging, violence, and aggression, to secure political victory.

Earlier this month, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced the nationwide distribution of rice in grand style as part of preparations that many believe are tied to the 2027 presidential election.

Tinubu directed the Renewed Hope Ambassadors to begin distributing rice across all states of the federation to support Nigerians observing Ramadan and Lent. While this appears to be an act of benevolence, it is also timely and strategic.

Rice in Nigeria is more than food; it is a symbol of survival, celebration, and, increasingly, political leverage. In a country where poverty is widespread, a bag of rice today often means more to a struggling family than promises of a better economy tomorrow. Tinubu understands this and may use it to his advantage.

But the truth must be told: the success of the rice strategy has contributed to the regression of the Nigerian state. Hunger has been weaponised, and the people are bought cheaply. The masses have become like catfish, fed expertly, only to be harvested, processed, packaged, and sold for high economic value by the farmer.

Basic123:
There was a time 20 naira dominated

From 20 naira to ballots

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The headquarters of poverty in the South, is still thr.loudest noisemaker on empty stomachs.

Basic123:
There was a time 20 naira dominated

From 20 naira to ballots