The main idea behind this is that, due to the poor family they came from and arriving at that level,they use the opportunity to loot money to make sure the never get poor again and even the least project they will not do for the common people they are representing.
The main reason is greed. A greedy person is always greedy and they will find that opportunity to cheat you out of what you have. So don't make excuse of being poor for them because even the rich steal from public fund. The money that the former military president hid in other continent is still an example of what I am saying that being poor is not an excuse because all the ex military government were not poor but they stole public money.
They see it as an opportunity to amass wealth for themselves, families,and children even the once yet unborn.
I know of some one who had an opportunity to serve in a little capacity as a politician,and been there for just two years,he made money,build Mansons and even his 5 years son had an account of over five billion naira saved in and the old men and women in his local town wallow in pains and hunger,no job and they made the people leave in hard condition.
Take a look ![](https://ip.bitcointalk.org/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FyOMojMn.png&t=663&c=h3CZ12GML0lgDA)
This is typical of Nigerian politicians that they launder project money for the masses and convert to personal use .