Controversial Nigerian singer Habeeb Okikiola Badmus, better known as Portable, has thrown his weight behind First Lady Remi Tinubu following widespread criticism of her recent advice to unemployed women. Speaking on The Honest Bunch Podcast, the maverick entertainer argued that Mrs Tinubu’s suggestion that jobless women consider selling akara and roasted corn was grossly misunderstood by Nigerians who focused on the optics rather than the substance of her message.
Mrs Tinubu sparked heated debate across social media platforms after urging unemployed Nigerian women to embrace small scale enterprises such as frying bean cakes, commonly known as akara, and selling roasted corn as viable means of survival. Critics accused the First Lady of being out of touch with the economic realities facing millions of Nigerians, arguing that her comments trivialised the severity of unemployment in a country where many graduates struggle to find formal employment despite their qualifications.
Portable, however, offered a contrarian view, insisting that small scale trading remains a legitimate pathway to financial success in Nigeria. He pointed to numerous examples of wealthy Nigerians whose mothers financed their children’s education and advancement through proceeds from petty trading. According to the singer, dismissing such entrepreneurial endeavours reflects a misplaced sense of pride that prevents many from seizing available opportunities.
In a particularly striking claim, Portable recounted his recent trip to London where he allegedly encountered corn sellers driving luxury vehicles, specifically mentioning a Mercedes Benz. While the veracity of this observation remains unverified, the singer used it to illustrate his broader point that legitimate small businesses, when properly managed, can generate substantial income regardless of their modest beginnings.
The controversy surrounding Mrs Tinubu’s remarks reflects deeper tensions in Nigerian society about class, opportunity, and the responsibilities of leadership. Many citizens expect their leaders to address systemic economic failures rather than offer what they perceive as simplistic solutions to complex problems. Others, however, argue that any honest work should be celebrated in an economy where desperation has driven some toward criminal enterprises.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with high unemployment rates, particularly among young people and women, the debate over economic empowerment strategies is likely to intensify. Whether Mrs Tinubu’s comments will influence policy discussions or merely fade as another social media controversy remains to be seen, but they have certainly succeeded in highlighting the vast disconnect between Nigeria’s ruling elite and ordinary citizens struggling to make ends meet in an increasingly challenging economic environment.
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