Tinubu aide defends Oluremi Tinubu trader grants, slams criticisms as ‘olodo uprising’

The Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, has dismissed the criticism of First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s empowerment programme for petty traders, insisting that those attacking the initiative have ignored her long record of social intervention across the country.

In a statement issued on Monday, Olusegun argued that the outrage over assistance provided to traders, including akara and kulikuli sellers, reflected a misunderstanding of both the First Lady’s work and the significance of Nigeria’s informal economy.

He described the backlash as a “performative circus of selective amnesia”, maintaining that many critics had overlooked several humanitarian and economic interventions implemented through the Renewed Hope Initiative.

According to him, the First Lady’s programmes have benefited far more than market traders. He pointed to the donation of ₦1 billion to the National Cancer Fund to support cervical cancer screening, alongside another ₦1 billion provided in 2025 for tuberculosis diagnostic equipment in Abuja.

Olusegun also cited financial support given to 1,709 widows and orphans of fallen military personnel, each of whom received ₦250,000 in 2023. He added that persons living with disabilities across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory had equally benefited from ₦200,000 business grants.

He further highlighted the Renewed Hope Initiative’s collaboration with the Tony Elumelu Foundation, through which 18,500 women nationwide received grants of ₦50,000 each. Beneficiaries were also provided with equipment such as industrial grinding machines, freezers and generators to support their businesses.

The presidential aide accused many social media users of reacting to trending conversations without taking time to verify the facts.

“This entire controversy perfectly mirrors what is now happening with the broader ‘Olodo uprising’ across our social platforms. We live in an era where people jump on trending hashtags and soundbites without dedicating a single minute to researching context. Memes are manufactured in seconds; accurate history takes time to read.

“When the critics are done making their superficial memes, writing cynical captions, and circulating ignorant narratives, the reality on the ground will remain unchanged. They would be better off advising their constituents to find credible means to key into these ongoing government initiatives.”

Olusegun rejected claims that providing grants and equipment to small-scale traders amounted to “weaponising poverty”, arguing instead that such interventions strengthen the country’s grassroots economy.

“According to various economic metrics, the informal sector contributes over 50 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP and accounts for over 80 per cent of employment. The akara fryer, the kulikuli processor, and the petty trader are not just marginal actors; they are the literal shock absorbers of our micro-economy.

“When you give a micro-grant or operational tools to an akara seller, you are not validating poverty; you are reducing immediate operational capital friction, securing food chains at the grassroots, and expanding household income. Mocking these initiatives as ‘petty’ shows a deep-seated contempt for the actual working class of Nigeria.”

He also argued that grassroots empowerment has long been an effective political strategy because it directly addresses the immediate needs of ordinary Nigerians.

Drawing comparisons with the TraderMoni and MarketMoni programmes introduced during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari under then Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Olusegun said similar initiatives had delivered tangible benefits to market traders.

“The opposition often wonders why the poorest segments of the population continually familiarise themselves with the All Progressives Congress during elections. The answer is simple: the party meets them at their point of immediate need.”

Olusegun added that Oluremi Tinubu’s years as First Lady of Lagos State, three-term senator and now First Lady of the Federation demonstrate a consistent commitment to empowering vulnerable Nigerians through structured programmes.

“She will not be distracted by digital static from doing what she has mastered over decades: empowering the poorest among us, one structured intervention at a time.”