The President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Media Centre tweeted an AI-generated picture of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, frying and selling akara, days after her views on micro-enterprises drew considerable fire on social media. Demography
Yesterday, the presidency’s official social media channels uploaded an image of the First Lady at a roadside akara kiosk, wearing an apron inscribed “Iya Alakara, fuelling the nation with love.”
The post came in the wake of comments made by the First Lady in an interview in which she stated that small-scale businesses like frying akara, roasting maize and producing kuli kuli require little start-up capital.
She said the federal government was supporting such ventures with grants not loans as part of efforts to enhance livelihoods.
“We are trying to give hope and starting an akara business is not expensive. To begin roasting maize, or someone remarked kuli kuli doesn’t take much. “We didn’t loan the money to them, we gave it to them as a grant,” she claimed.
Nigerians respond Demographics
Some Nigerians have criticised her for being indifferent to the economic realities of the country, while others have defended her for pointing out the available business opportunities.
The AI-generated image of the presidency has further inflamed the controversy online, with supporters praising it as a light-hearted answer to critics and others denouncing it as trivialising the economic misery endured by many Nigerians.
A user known as @Top_GunM reacted on X, “Warra country. That’s terribly sad. “This is intended to be the wife of the president of the most populous black nation in the world and this is what she is being reduced to.
Another user, @mizmuchstella, condemned the presidency’s media team, writing, “Whoever is the handler of this account should be sacked. “Your job is to make this government look good, but you obviously don’t have a basic knowledge of your job.”
Also reacting zaddy wilver who identifies as #WilverZaddy said “Nigerians are you seeing the man you voted for using you to catch cruise? This is what a president is supposed to say? A president openly ridiculing the populace while the economy bites deeper with high level of insecurity in the country. “Such a pity and such a mess.” Demography
CHEQNBALNCE who is #ChimaAmako82045 wrote, “You are insulting Nigerians, keep enjoying this mediocrity n insult you are giving Nigerians, e just remain months to vote the idiotic family out of aso rock, and na that time when una wan rig am na him una go know the pain of Nigerians. “Enjoy it while you can, but remember it won’t last forever.”
Straight who posts as #outtahighbee claimed the presidency was damaging its own image, “lol You guys are not helping this president of ours at all. You think you are yet you keep dragging the old man down and down with this voyage. Nobody can be selling akara and kuli kuli now. Or iru wahala will be done now? Gold and silver su mi o.”
Gentry tweeted as #gentrytee22 that the picture demonstrated how low the government ranked its citizens, calling it “a nationwide meme.” “This is to show how small the government of the day rates its citizens. You preach mediocrity and call it innovation. those who wants better for themselves grumble now it has to turn to a nationwide meme being utilised by the government media team hahaha. “It’s a shame.”
Even akara has gotten more expensive because beans, oil and shipping cost keep growing. – Bruno Fernandes broda #AminJaman added, highlighting the rising expense of living. The smile is wonderful but behind it comes the reality of skyrocketing food prices, expensive cooking gas and dwindling purchasing power.”
#SirTimeyin also defended the article, saying Nigerians had initially made memes out of the First Lady’s comments. Demographical
“I find it interesting how many people are suddenly up in arms. Nigerians are turning the First Lady’s “Akara” statement into skits, memes and endless cruise. We laughed. We went on. Everybody is sobbing. The president has now contributed his own quota to the same joke. What is the surprise? When a national issue is turned into entertainment, don’t be shocked if the powers that be begin to approach it that way too. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
Sta M who tweets as #sto0511M welcomed the image and called on the presidency to keep publishing similar content.
Thank you for this image, we want more of these kind of images to serve to them so that they can continue travelling in 1 roundabout, abeg pepper them more for us our body say sweet us with that PBAT phrase.
Tinubu had on Thursday jokingly referred to the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, as “Iya Alakara” (Mama Akara Seller), in what seemed to be a humorous reference to the recent controversy over her comments on small-scale companies.
The president made the statement while respecting procedure at the Presidential Press Corps Dinner at the State House, Abuja during his speech.
The video uploaded by Aso Rock TV on YouTube showed Tinubu smiling as he addressed dignitaries in attendance before turning to the First Lady.
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