Nigerians have reacted strongly after First Lady Remi Tinubu described her husband, President Bola Tinubu, as “the architect of modern Nigeria.” She made the remark in a post on her official Facebook page on Thursday, writing, “The architect of modern Nigeria who rekindled hope in the hearts of his people.”
Three days after the post, it had gathered over 10,000 reactions, nearly 6,000 comments, and hundreds of shares. The comment section quickly became a mix of satire, criticism, and reflections from Nigerians responding to the First Lady’s praise.
Some critics focused on the government’s economic policies. Muhammad Jibo commented, “The Jagaban of modern Nigeria who removed fuel subsidy completely, revived foreign loans, increased taxes instead of salaries, and replaced the national anthem.” Others turned to historical and biblical references. Oluwatimilehin Emmanuel wrote, “Jezebel dey praise Zaccheus,” while Abiodun Olalekan referred to the president as “the Pharaoh of Nigeria the number one tax collector in our history,” and Alade Bernard described him as “the modern Zacchaeus and a borrowing professional.”
Not all responses were angry; many expressed confusion or disappointment. MI Vonke-Lome Jere said, “Tinubu has the capacity to change things around, but I am confused what is happening?” Adeka Adeka asked, “Who increased pain, not rekindled hope?” while Sammykaiz Junior simply questioned, “Which hope?”
Some comments targeted both the presidency and the First Lady. Joe Martian wrote, “Like husband, like wife,” and Afrika Frank added, “97-year-old man by force president.” Others said they visited the post simply for amusement. Hussein Danjani Hadejia shared, “I prefer to go straight to the comment section that’s where I find happiness.”
The reactions come amid public concern over economic reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration, including the removal of petrol subsidy, exchange-rate unification, higher taxes, and public sector revenue reforms. While the federal government has defended these measures as essential for economic recovery, critics argue they have intensified hardship for millions of Nigerians.
This is not the first time Mrs. Tinubu has publicly praised her husband. On January 8, she posted that under his leadership, Nigeria was experiencing “a rebirth with increased revenue, renewed infrastructure and clear signs of economic recovery.”
The post and ensuing reactions highlight the deep divide in public opinion, as praise from political figures often meets scrutiny in a country grappling with rising costs of living, ongoing reforms, and widespread frustration, according to Zoyols Blog.
