The Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, on Saturday said most Nigerian elites are not aware of the level of poverty in the country.

Sanusi said the true nature of poverty in Nigeria first dawned on him when he became the Emir of Kano.

He spoke at the 60th birthday of former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi in Abuja.

Sanusi lamented the nature of living in the rural areas, noting that most people in the villages are wallowing in abject poverty.

The former CBN governor blamed bad leadership for the poverty level in the rural areas.

His words: “Many of the elite in Nigeria do not know what poverty is.

As an economist, former CBN Governor, I see the numbers. I did not know poverty until I became Emir.

“And you go to the village and see the water they drink, the houses they live in, they two block classrooms without roofs.”

Sanusi was CBN governor during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.