President Bola Tinubu injected humor into a formal state gathering on Thursday night, playfully referring to the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, as “Iya Alakara” (Mama Akara Seller). The light-hearted jab was an apparent nod to the recent public controversy surrounding her remarks on small-scale businesses.
The President made the witty remark while observing official protocols during his keynote address at the Presidential Press Corps Dinner, held at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja.
As President Tinubu went through the guest list of dignitaries, he paused at the mention of the First Lady. Looking in her direction, he smiled and added the Yoruba moniker, prompting instant laughter and applause from the audience of journalists, media executives, and top government officials.
The moment, captured in a video shared by Aso Rock TV on YouTube, serves as a relaxed response to the intense social media debate generated weeks ago by the First Lady’s comments regarding the economic scale of micro-traders. By leaning into the viral phrase, the President effectively defused the tension surrounding the controversy with family humor.
The Presidential Press Corps Dinner is an annual media engagement event aimed at fostering stronger relations between the executive arm of government and the journalists covering the State House.
