APC’s politics of deception: Using religion and poverty as tools for 2027

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has once again shown its skill in political manipulation rather than genuine governance. Its latest move — the so-called review and reduction of Hajj fares — is being paraded as an act of compassion toward Muslim pilgrims. In reality, it is a calculated attempt to exploit the deep religious […]

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has once again shown its skill in political manipulation rather than genuine governance. Its latest move — the so-called review and reduction of Hajj fares — is being paraded as an act of compassion toward Muslim pilgrims. In reality, it is a calculated attempt to exploit the deep religious sentiments of northern Muslims ahead of the 2027 general elections.

This is not leadership; it is deception. The same government that made Hajj almost impossible for ordinary Nigerians through poor economic policies now seeks praise for offering partial relief. The devaluation of the naira, galloping inflation, and reckless borrowing have crippled the economy and reduced the purchasing power of millions. To now play the role of a saviour is hypocrisy of the highest order.

Religion is not the only tool in this political drama. Poverty, too, has become a convenient weapon. The administration’s recent distribution of food palliatives, subsidies, and other temporary relief measures are being presented as acts of mercy. But Nigerians must see them for what they truly are—short-term political stunts aimed at winning hearts, not rebuilding lives.

While the government claims to be fighting hunger, its policies continue to undermine farmers, traders, and small businesses. Agriculture, the backbone of many northern communities, is struggling under rising costs and poor support. What the government gives with one hand through palliatives, it takes away with the other through inflation, taxation, and mismanagement.

This cycle of deceit has gone on for too long. Nigerians are being made to celebrate crumbs while the economy continues to collapse. The promises of job creation, industrial revival, and economic stability remain unfulfilled. Instead, we are fed with religious symbolism and populist gestures meant to distract from the government’s failures.

As 2027 approaches, citizens must not be deceived again. The use of faith and poverty as campaign tools is an insult to the intelligence and dignity of Nigerians. True governance is not about handouts or emotional manipulation—it is about accountability, reform, and sustainable development.

If the APC truly cares about Nigerians, it should show it through bold actions: stabilizing the naira, supporting industries, empowering farmers, and ensuring that citizens can live with dignity. Anything less is another performance in the endless play of political deception.

Nigerians must stay alert. We must not allow our faith, our hunger, or our struggles to become campaign slogans once again. The time for political games is over—what Nigeria needs now is sincerity, vision, and leadership that works for the people, not against them.

 

Fatima Ali Isa wrote from the Department of Mass Communication at the University of Maiduguri.