₦airaland Forum

‘N60k salary, four wives, 17 kids,’ Wike’s aide says irresponsible parenting fueling Northern insecurity

The Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and Social Media to the FCT Minister, Lere Olayinka, has reignited a conversation on social media regarding the causes of insecurity in Northern Nigeria.

In a post shared on X on Tuesday, Olayinka questioned the logic of low-income earners marrying multiple wives and fathering dozens of children they cannot afford to feed or educate, identifying unregulated polygamy and child abandonment as primary drivers of insecurity.

He wrote, “This is one problem the North must begin to solve now. There is no reason a man who cannot properly take care of one wife and two children should marry three wives and produce fifteen or seventeen children.

“Many of today’s terrorists and bandits were once innocent children roaming the streets, hungry, uneducated, and forgotten.”

Olayinka noted that the sight of children carrying plastic begging bowls on the major roads of Abuja is a warning sign of future catastrophe.

“Each time I see them on major roads in Abuja carrying a plastic bowl, my questions are always How did they get here? Who are their parents? What will these unaccounted children become in future?” He asked.

He also argued that while many are quick to blame the government for the country’s woes, the state cannot solve the crisis of a “gate-man earning N60k with 17 children.”

Olayinka wrote, “I am sure some people will still come here to blame the government. But what can the government do in the case of a gate-man earning say N60k per month, but has four wives and 17 children?”

“Abandoned children, like these ones, will certainly grow up angry, desperate and dangerous,” he warned.

PUNCH reported in 2021 that a former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, had similarly blamed the worsening tempo of insecurity, especially in Northern Nigeria, on the Almajiri system, saying it had failed the region.

Onaiyekan reportedly expressed concern that young boys who had been abandoned by their parents have ended up as bandits and Boko Haram terrorists.

lonelygem:
shame on on them and their yeye governance ideology.

there was never a time poverty is not in jubilation state in Nigeria or African countries as a whole.
as far as memory can permit me, so called president was a well grown adult when OFN was lunched way back then prioritizing food security. I grew to know what is called 'iyan Buhari' meaning Buhari's pounded yam. all these were nicknames given to the food items door step delivery intervention programs that we enjoyed as a growing child and our parents appreciated till date. Reasons why our parents who were school teachers with such meager income were able to sponsor 3, 4 kids through University same time.

Talking about the toddlers scouting around Abuja roads for means of survival, at what point has it become a concern to him if not for the embarrassment it posses on him siting such heartrending situation they've constantly swept under the carpet. must every hungry Nigerians pick up a plastic bowl to beg for alms before this government feel concern?? because some people's condition is worse than what you see the kids doing on the street.

I have gone to eat at an eatery where an average age Nigerian youth whisper in my ears that I should please assist him by leaving a little leftover that he would know how to pick up my plate afterwords.. when I interacted with him, he wasnt actually a begger, he had stayed two days without food and he had to stay out of jod because the salary couldnt cater for transportation and coupled with several other factors..

Northerners have embraced their problems over years and surviving through whichever means, why is the government trying to downplay its primary responsibility to the nation as a whole..

people have landed properties that had been abandoned for fear of banditry. it takes grace of God to leave for work in the morning and come back home safely without a story that touch..

in the space of 4 days, my street was robbed twice. this is a street that has police post 300 meters away..
we put a call across to police, the DPO responded with sleepy voice and it took over three hours before they eventually called back that they didnt have fuel to move and they couldnt locate the particular street on foot.

I think the Government should just be focused on its responsibilities to its citizen before pointing accusing fingers.

'Na papa wey get property fit get mouth to say e wan disown pikin no be the one wey pikin don already know say in no get anything to gain from the papa afterall..'

lonelygem:
shame on on them and their yeye governance ideology.

there was never a time poverty is not in jubilation state in Nigeria or African countries as a whole.
as far as memory can permit me, so called president was a well grown adult when OFN was lunched way back then prioritizing food security. I grew to know what is called 'iyan Buhari' meaning Buhari's pounded yam. all these were nicknames given to the food items door step delivery intervention programs that we enjoyed as a growing child and our parents appreciated till date. Reasons why our parents who were school teachers with such meager income were able to sponsor 3, 4 kids through University same time.

Talking about the toddlers scouting around Abuja roads for means of survival, at what point has it become a concern to him if not for the embarrassment it posses on him siting such heartrending situation they've constantly swept under the carpet. must every hungry Nigerians pick up a plastic bowl to beg for alms before this government feel concern?? because some people's condition is worse than what you see the kids doing on the street.

I have gone to eat at an eatery where an average age Nigerian youth whisper in my ears that I should please assist him by leaving a little leftover that he would know how to pick up my plate afterwords.. when I interacted with him, he wasnt actually a begger, he had stayed two days without food and he had to stay out of jod because the salary couldnt cater for transportation and coupled with several other factors..

Northerners have embraced their problems over years and surviving through whichever means, why is the government trying to downplay its primary responsibility to the nation as a whole..

people have landed properties that had been abandoned for fear of banditry. it takes grace of God to leave for work in the morning and come back home safely without a story that touch..

in the space of 4 days, my street was robbed twice. this is a street that has police post 300 meters away..
we put a call across to police, the DPO responded with sleepy voice and it took over three hours before they eventually called back that they didnt have fuel to move and they couldnt locate the particular street on foot.

I think the Government should just be focused on its responsibilities to its citizen before pointing accusing fingers.

'Na papa wey get property fit get mouth to say e wan disown pikin no be the one wey pikin don already know say in no get anything to gain from the papa afterall..'

Clature:
Though individuals must make sensible decisions and it is daft to marry, not to talk of having a child or 17 for that matter when immersed in absolute poverty, government must not be absolved.

Nigerians are largely uneducated and daft and that is absolutely the fault of the government, check out the schools. So, though Mr. Olayinka is right, he must shut it and bury his entire head in shame as he has been part of governments who continue to fail to prioritize education. Perhaps if they did, people can be smarter.

Last I checked, the FCT is still owing teachers salaries. Let’s be guided please.

lonelygem:
shame on on them and their yeye governance ideology.

there was never a time poverty is not in jubilation state in Nigeria or African countries as a whole.
as far as memory can permit me, so called president was a well grown adult when OFN was lunched way back then prioritizing food security. I grew to know what is called 'iyan Buhari' meaning Buhari's pounded yam. all these were nicknames given to the food items door step delivery intervention programs that we enjoyed as a growing child and our parents appreciated till date. Reasons why our parents who were school teachers with such meager income were able to sponsor 3, 4 kids through University same time.

Talking about the toddlers scouting around Abuja roads for means of survival, at what point has it become a concern to him if not for the embarrassment it posses on him siting such heartrending situation they've constantly swept under the carpet. must every hungry Nigerians pick up a plastic bowl to beg for alms before this government feel concern?? because some people's condition is worse than what you see the kids doing on the street.

I have gone to eat at an eatery where an average age Nigerian youth whisper in my ears that I should please assist him by leaving a little leftover that he would know how to pick up my plate afterwords.. when I interacted with him, he wasnt actually a begger, he had stayed two days without food and he had to stay out of jod because the salary couldnt cater for transportation and coupled with several other factors..

Northerners have embraced their problems over years and surviving through whichever means, why is the government trying to downplay its primary responsibility to the nation as a whole..

people have landed properties that had been abandoned for fear of banditry. it takes grace of God to leave for work in the morning and come back home safely without a story that touch..

in the space of 4 days, my street was robbed twice. this is a street that has police post 300 meters away..
we put a call across to police, the DPO responded with sleepy voice and it took over three hours before they eventually called back that they didnt have fuel to move and they couldnt locate the particular street on foot.

I think the Government should just be focused on its responsibilities to its citizen before pointing accusing fingers.

'Na papa wey get property fit get mouth to say e wan disown pikin no be the one wey pikin don already know say in no get anything to gain from the papa afterall..'

TallNigerian:
you no get sense. You deviated from the topic completely. Why should a low income earner have four wives?

Clature:
Though individuals must make sensible decisions and it is daft to marry, not to talk of having a child or 17 for that matter when immersed in absolute poverty, government must not be absolved.

Nigerians are largely uneducated and daft and that is absolutely the fault of the government, check out the schools. So, though Mr. Olayinka is right, he must shut it and bury his entire head in shame as he has been part of governments who continue to fail to prioritize education. Perhaps if they did, people can be smarter.

Last I checked, the FCT is still owing teachers salaries. Let’s be guided please.