EKITI STATE, NIGERIA – A disturbing incident in Ekiti State has sparked widespread outrage after videos emerged showing loaves of bread being thrown from moving vehicles to residents who scrambled to collect them from the ground.
The footage, which has circulated widely on social media, has drawn criticism from Nigerians who argue that the manner of distribution was degrading and deeply disrespectful to the dignity of citizens already struggling under severe economic hardship.
Eyewitnesses and online commentators have condemned the scene, describing it as a humiliating spectacle that reduced vulnerable people to recipients of charity dispensed without regard for their humanity.
For me, this incident reinforces a broader argument I have made regarding the nature of governance in contemporary Africa. I have described some of Africa’s political elites as “Afrocentric colonialists”—leaders who share the nationality, language, and appearance of the people they govern, yet treat those same citizens with the same contempt, exploitation, and disregard historically associated with colonial rulers.
Only Afrocentric colonialists could preside over a situation in which hungry citizens are expected to pick food from the ground while those entrusted with public office display little regard for their dignity. If Nigerian leaders can treat fellow Nigerians in this manner in 2026, one must ask what ordinary people endured during the eras of colonialism and the transatlantic slave trade.
The incident also raises important questions about the nature of oppression in modern Africa. What Nigerians are experiencing today cannot simply be explained as neo-colonialism, where foreign powers dominate African societies from afar. Rather, it reflects what may be termed Afrocentric colonialism—a system in which African elites exercise colonial-like power over their own people.
The bread was not thrown to Nigerians by foreign rulers. It was allegedly distributed by fellow Nigerians, many of whom occupy positions of authority and influence. These are individuals who are expected to provide welfare, security, and economic opportunities for citizens, yet who are increasingly accused of enriching themselves while millions struggle with poverty, hunger, and insecurity.
The public reaction has been swift. Many Nigerians have taken to social media to express anger and disbelief, questioning how elected leaders could treat the very people they swore to serve with such apparent contempt. The controversy comes against the backdrop of rising food prices, worsening economic conditions, and growing frustration with governance across the country.
As calls for accountability continue to grow, attention is turning to whether the Ekiti State Government or those responsible for the distribution exercise will respond to the criticism. For many observers, the incident has become emblematic of a wider crisis of leadership and a growing disconnect between political elites and ordinary citizens.
Ultimately, this episode underscores the urgent need for leadership that respects the dignity of every citizen. Food assistance and social welfare programmes should uplift people, not humiliate them. A society cannot claim to be democratic or humane when its most vulnerable citizens are treated in ways that diminish their worth and humanity.
