Remi Tinubu’s Akara advice wasn’t meant for Yahoo Boys, Obi supporters – APC loyalist Ayekooto

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ayekooto Akindele, has defended First Lady Oluremi Tinubu over her recent comments encouraging Nigerians to engage in small-scale businesses, saying her advice was not directed at internet fraudsters or supporters of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

The First Lady recently came under criticism after a viral video showed her encouraging women to embrace petty businesses such as frying akara, roasting corn and selling kulikuli as a means of earning a living.

Her remarks sparked backlash on social media, with many Nigerians accusing her of trivialising the country’s economic hardship and unemployment challenges.

Reacting to the controversy in a post on his verified X account on Saturday, Akindele said the First Lady’s message was intended for people living below or around the poverty line who seek legitimate means of livelihood.

According to him, the businesses mentioned by the First Lady are patronised daily by millions of Nigerians.

“Every petty business Remi Tinubu mentioned is patronised daily by virtually every home in Nigeria.

“Even the yahooboys and ObiDENTs who are lamenting eat one or two of these items daily. But they see it as too low for them; they want to sell cars like Coscharis, Lanre Shittu or Elizade.”

The APC chieftain argued that the First Lady was not referring to those groups but to Nigerians struggling to earn an honest living.

“Fortunately, they’re not the ones Mama was referring to, their level pass mama own.

“Mama was talking to those on or under the poverty line, who want to retain their dignity while earning a livelihood without sleeping with strangers at motels or duping foreigners on the internet.

“There’s dignity in lawful labour,” he wrote.

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