President Bola Tinubu has made light joke out of his wife’s controversial statement encouraging women to venture into small business like akara, kulikuli, and roasted corn production.
NPO Reported that the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, had come under heavy backlash after urging Nigerian women to venture into akara making, roasted corn, and kuli-kuli production which she claimed require relatively small capital, making them accessible opportunities for individuals seeking to start a means of livelihood.
The controversial statement also saw some members of the troll the first lady with content creators and activists making satirical video contents from the first lady’s advice.
Joining the public row on his wife, Tinubu also taunted the first lady during his address at the Presidential Press Corps Dinner at the State House Banquet Hall.
The President, while acknowledging the presence of Oluremi, called her Iya Alakara, stirring laughter among the audience.
“…Gentlemen of the press, ladies and gentlemen. My dear wife, the first lady, Iya Alakara.” Tinubu said.
This had sparked mixed reactions from netizens with some commending the president’s sense of humour while others slammed him over the remark which they considered distraction from burning issues facing the country.
“If the leaders are making fun from the nation’s problems and still be applauded for it. Niw tell me, why do we have to blame the masses that are redirecting and generating source of living from the same thing? Just asking tho…”@4_tunateboi
“The President needs to be very aggressive in terms of handling national affairs. Matters arising,this is not the time for jokes . This is the time to display total seriousness in terms of security matters, this is the time to be serious in terms of national security issues.”@iceross
“Get ready to see more of this. It’s a strategy to make himself a talk of town as an election is around the corner.. This man is too deceptive.”@Muyiwa_Odofin
“The President has a good sense of humour though”@the_eneconomist
“This is a President we deserve for now. He understands the system better each day that passed”@LarindeJide
“I bet they all talked about it at home and they laughed about it We are so cooked ha”@Datguy_sam
“Carry on Jare my president you shall live long in good health and wealth In Shaa Allah you will succeed and your enemies will be disgraced In Shaa Allah Rabbul Izza”@Adisco_papa
“We are not a serious country else he won’t be joking when children are in the forest.. Human lives means absolutely nothing…”@lekside34