A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Joe Igbokwe, has expressed disappointment over the criticism directed at First Lady Oluremi Tinubu following her recent remarks encouraging poor Nigerians to embrace small-scale businesses as a means of livelihood.
In a reaction shared on his social media page, Igbokwe said he was deeply saddened by the public response to the First Lady’s comments, declaring that “shame has enveloped me” over what he described as the harsh treatment meted out to her.
The controversy stems from remarks by Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who advised Nigerians facing economic hardship to consider starting small businesses such as selling akara (bean cakes), roasted corn and kuli-kuli instead of waiting for white-collar jobs. The comments were intended to encourage entrepreneurship and self-reliance amid the country’s prevailing economic challenges.
However, the remarks quickly sparked widespread criticism on social media, where many Nigerians argued that the advice failed to acknowledge the depth of the country’s economic difficulties. Critics maintained that millions of citizens are already engaged in informal businesses but continue to struggle due to inflation, rising living costs, inadequate infrastructure, and declining purchasing power.
Reacting to the backlash, Igbokwe defended the First Lady, saying the level of criticism directed at her was unfair and unfortunate. He suggested that her comments had been misconstrued and insisted that promoting entrepreneurship should not be viewed negatively.
According to the APC stalwart, there is dignity in every legitimate form of labour, regardless of its scale, and many successful entrepreneurs began with modest ventures before expanding into larger businesses.
His intervention has further fueled public debate over the First Lady’s comments, with supporters arguing that encouraging small businesses is a practical way to promote self-employment, while critics insist that government officials should focus on creating policies that address unemployment, inflation and the rising cost of living.
The exchange has also reignited broader conversations about the role of political leaders in responding to citizens’ economic concerns and the importance of balancing motivational messages with concrete policies aimed at improving living standards.
As discussions continue across social media and public platforms, the incident underscores the growing public scrutiny of comments made by government officials amid Nigeria’s ongoing economic challenges. Neither the Presidency nor the Office of the First Lady has issued any further statement in response to the criticism or Igbokwe’s remarks.
