An All Progressives Congress (APC) youth leader has defended First Lady Oluremi Tinubu’s controversial remarks on petty trading, arguing that it is more dignified for women to sell akara than to be labelled prostitutes.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the youth leader whose identity could not be verified at the time of publication said critics were misrepresenting the First Lady’s comments, which encouraged Nigerians to embrace small-scale businesses such as frying akara and selling kuli-kuli.
“Is it not better to be noble than to be doing filthy things? It is better they know you as an akara seller than to be known as an armed robber or prostitute,” he said, adding that his own mother sold akara.
The youth leader highlighted several empowerment initiatives spearheaded by Mrs. Tinubu, including ₦2 billion donated to tuberculosis cases, ₦1 billion to tackle malnutrition, and ₦1.5 billion to address cancer and hypertension.
He insisted that the akara remark was only an example, not the entirety of her empowerment agenda.
Videos of his comments, recorded by News Century TV, have since gone viral on social media, drawing attention both to his remarks and to the cap he wore, which resembled those associated with President Bola Tinubu.
The First Lady’s earlier comments had sparked backlash, with many Nigerians accusing her of trivialising economic hardship.
However, she later clarified that the Federal Government’s empowerment programmes extend beyond akara sellers to include traders in tomatoes, pepper, vegetables, and roasted plantain, with beneficiaries receiving ₦50,000 each from a ₦100 million grant.
Presidential aides, including Sunday Dare and Dada Olusegun, also defended her, stressing that her message was about micro-enterprise, self-reliance, and the dignity of labour.
President Tinubu himself playfully referred to her as “Iya Alakara” (Mama Akara Seller) during a recent State House dinner, further fuelling public debate.
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