Lead By Example By Hawking In Lagos— Yoruba Group Slams Oluremi Tinubu Over ‘Akara, Corn’ Remark

The Yoruba Union, Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá, has criticized Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, over her recent remarks on women’s empowerment, asking her to lead by example by selling akara, roasted corn and kuli-kuli in the Surulere area of Lagos.

This was just as the group said the world has moved on through invention, innovation and technology, insisting that it was insulting for Oluremi to reduce the struggles of Nigerian women to roadside trading.

In a statement signed by the Convener of the group, Olusola Badero, and released through its Home Director, Princess Balogun, the Yoruba Union said Tinubu’s wife should have used the resources at her disposal to create meaningful support for women rather than suggesting petty trading as the answer to economic hardship.

“It is very unfortunate that a woman who is the First Lady of a country will look down on her fellow women because she has the privilege of being in that position and thinks others are nothing,” Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá said.

The group further stated that Oluremi Tinubu “started her life by enjoying freebies, living in luxury houses and enjoying luxuries with taxpayers’ money,” accusing her of speaking in a way that demeaned the average women.

Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá said women like Remi Tinubu did not deserve the position she was occupying, accusing her of failing to address the plight of Nigerians, including schoolchildren abducted in Oyo State and the women and children reportedly kidnapped in Kwara State.

According to the group, Oluremi had instead chosen to spend taxpayers’ money gathering the wives of the 36 state governors in Abuja and distributing expensive buses to APC women leaders across the country.

“Why can’t she distribute such cars to the women she told to start akara business if she is really interested in elevating women across the country?” the statement queried.

The Yoruba Union described Remi Tinubu as “one of the worst First Ladies Nigeria would ever have in history,” insisting that her actions showed insensitivity to the plight of the masses.

“She can distribute buses and jeeps to APC women because of her husband’s presidential ambition, but told those who will stand in the rain and sun to vote for her to start kuli-kuli and akara business because they are children of nobody in the society,” the organisation said.

It added that Tinubu should go to Surulere and start the akara business herself, while, according to the group, employing the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, to hawk at Oju Elegba under bridge.

“For long these heartless people have taken Nigerians for granted. They treated people as if they are nothing. What moral and values is she teaching?” the statement asked.

The organisation also contrasted Tinubu’s message with the approach of First Ladies in other countries, saying that while others were “showcasing how their women are moving to space and creating innovative ideas,” the Nigerian First Lady was telling women to go into akara, roasted corn and kuli-kuli businesses.

“While other world First Ladies are showcasing how their women are moving to space, creating innovative ideas, here in Nigeria, Remi Tinubu, the wife of President Bola Tinubu, is telling women to start akara, roasted corn and kuli-kuli business,” Yoruba Union said.

“That is unacceptable in the 21st century and does not reflect the aspirations of Nigerian women.”

The group maintained that Nigerian women deserve policies that encourage innovation, industrialisation, technology-driven entrepreneurship and sustainable economic opportunities rather than outdated roadside trading as the solution to the country’s worsening economic challenges.