Joy Bakare
Political economist and former presidential aspirant, Prof. Pat Utomi, on Friday berated the Senate for allegedly mocking the poor amid economic hardship.
He spoke days after Senate President Godswill Akpabio and others cracked the “let the poor breath joke” during plenary.
Utomi said: “I am traumatized by this mocking of the poor by our Senate.
“In a decent society we should have had resignations by now.
“To mock the poor is to mock God.
“I know where Godswill Akpabio was before Obong Victor Attah gave a hand.
“Better an honest poor than a rich thief politician.
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“I wonder what it will take to make people realise that values shape human progress.
“Sustainable progress is not possible where culture is in collapse and institutions are dysfunctional.
“Sadly this seems extant reality in Nigeria.
“Citizens need to be awakened to where we are.
“To abuse public trust and mock the victims as is becoming habit of the criminal network of our politicians is to forget how transient power is.
“All will do well to remember the Judgment of Conscience, the judgment of history, and the Judgement of God.
“He reigns.”
Arise News TV host, Rufai Oseni, also berated the senators for allegedly mocking the plight of Nigerians.
In the Arise News morning show on Friday, an angry-looking Oseni blasted the senators for using the “let us breathe” slogan he said was pioneered by President Bola Tinubu to “mock” Nigerians who have to go through hard times and suffering since the increase in fuel price and forex.
According to him, Nigerian senators only have to look at nearby countries to see what happens when politicians take the suffering and hungry masses for granted.