Social media has been buzzing with sharp criticisms and diverse reactions from Nigerians following President Bola Tinubu’s recent remarks on hunger and governance during a meeting at the State House.
During a July 28 meeting at the State House, bishops told President Bola Tinubu about widespread insecurity, hunger, and economic woes. Tinubu replied that his government is fixing an inherited mess, with better days ahead, but noted hunger predated his birth and quipped that churches should feed their flocks.
The remarks fueled online outrage amid soaring poverty—now at 63 percent per World Bank data—and food inflation, with critics like activist Omoyele Sowore calling them clueless.
The backlash highlights tensions over reforms that promise stability but hit households hard right now.
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Here are the reactions from users on X:
Omoyele Sowore (@sowore): This @officialABAT man is clueless. Did he campaign to perpetuate generational hunger or to end it? If hunger existed before you were born @officialABAT wasn’t that exactly why you sought power, to end it? It has always been known fact that you and your ilk sought power to perpetuate hunger. #TinubuMustGO #Sowore2027
Alozie (@AmadiSavio19490): Listen if ur brains are not working please try to study, if u lv in a cntry were u hv petrol, free sunlight for solar, yet no light no food, that means as a leader you must, be useless u came u remove fuel imditly hunger bcm high now u say u can mk tins wrk and u spt this nonses
Neche Rem (@EzeaniNeche): See what our “Highest Authority” is saying ooo. We are cooked in this country, Nooo, Tinubu must go.
AA Bayo (@adebayogboye): Not every region in Nigeria contributed to the exponential population growth. Therefore, let there regional autonomy, where there will be no more free money, and everyone will live from what they make. Imagine Kano IGR/ capita is 3k naira, while some are making 32k naira.
Oluwa-Big Meach (Chuk… (@KOmon…): I keep saying this generally, that the government cannot protect and feed the whole Nigerians. We are over! Populated in this country and we keep multiplying Every Year! …The last time we were counted in this country is 2011, I think 🤔 the total population is 250 million,we are definitely over 500 millions population! Now!!
Andrew Okoto (@andrewok…): Hahahaha, in 1985, the average Nigerian was wealthier than the average Chinese.
China has 1.4 Billion people today, and they’re are 15 times wealthier than the average Nigerian!
You brought in an average person who can only speak English as president, what do you expect??
whereischarles (@Chinaemez): If He, the president said he has no control of the population development/trajectory of Nigeria, why did he run for president and is he running for a second term? Is that not foolishness? He said when he was young there was hunger; now he’s the president and he can’t do anything. Tinubu must go because we must not all die of hunger. Since he has no control, let’s give someone who will find a solution to the population development of Nigeria.
Donatus Osatofoh (@AilodionD): This man nor get sense. Nobody is saying you should feed us. Create enabling environment for small businesses to thrive, create employment, solve insecurity problems and provide basic amenities
ThreadSnatcher (@ThreadBa…): Hunger existed before you were born. Corruption exists because of you. Naira collapse, fuel subsidy chaos, food inflation at record highs all happened after you took office, not before. Stop hiding behind history you didn’t write and answer for the disaster you did.
Kehinde (@Favour247): This is what we call olodo uprising…is the church collecting money from the government for it to feed the members. This man is a great disaster to our nation. His supporters should just advise him to resign and handover the government to someone else because the embarrassment he is bringing to this nation is getting too much.
SEGUN (@soulaimmusic): I hate listening to this baba 😳😳😳😳
What is he saying?
BC Avocat (@bcje33): Spoken like a true wise fool. At the risk of sounding stupid, religious institutions can do a lot to ameliorate the suffering in the land. Afterall, stolen public funds are given to them in the name of seeds and donations.
Olorogun Tsolzskinovsky (@t…): Pre-election, he made a statement about ‘church rat’ and here he goes again without inspiring anything, taking a jibe at church feeding you from the allocation to the church. Anyone should receive curse for your right to vote for this ticket.
Pelumiii (@Pelumiiislt): See what this BAT dey say. Chaiii a whole president.
Godknoweth (@GabrielGab99…): Why all the journalist are been muted during buhari government, are they telling us that they don’t know that buhari government was still more badly beyond tinubu govt, buhari cleared all,both central bank of so called Nig, I mean all!!, and nobody is even talking about buhari,
Valentine Igboanugo (@vimval_): I Dey for them shithead stanship to start finding ways to give him praises
Ataben (@shamrock748281): This trend of pushing the responsibilities of govt. to Nigerians is so nonsensical. Membership to give hope. SMH Governance is not doing for these for guys🤣 🤣🤣 like someone wobbling in mud.
Naija First Son (@d_blackcas…): Imagine it was Peter Obi speaking on that microphone. God please sound the trumpet we are tired. Just imagine. A country of 200 million utilizing infrastructure meant for 50 million.
Keston Kester (@damolakest…): I respectfully disagree Sir..You asked Nigerians to endure subsidy removal, yet @nnpclimited spent ₦7.1tn on so-called energy security in a year while fuel prices remain high and food is still unaffordable 4 years into your government. This isn’t leadership Sir.
Godspower (@powermaga12): see ehh there’s really somthing we don’t seems to undatand here, dis is not just a fight against Tinubu, bt it’s a fight against almost all Nigeria politicians bcos watch very well dey are all benefiting frm his regime and they are all supporting him.. leaving us d masses to rot
@zicken (@zicken6): The other day his wife shifted the responsibility of alleviating poverty to musicians because they are buying expensive cars but tinubu bought yartch and new presidential jet.
Bruce George (@MrGeorgBruce): Never seen a useless government that runs away from it primary responsibilities, pushing it onto others as this government. But at the same time is fighting tooth and nail to remain in power. They just want the perks of office but not the work.
Gozie (@officialGozie1): Omoh!! No hope for betterment under this government.
Owunna, Izuoma Ibe (@Owu…): The Church exists to show compassion, not to replace government. Citizens pay taxes because the state has a duty to build an economy where people can feed themselves with dignity. Hunger is ultimately a governance challenge, not a church programme.
Kingsley omonua (@KOmon…): There was hunger, before you were born. As the master strategist, revered accountant. Why not end or reduce the hunger. Afteral you promised agbado, boli during your campaign. Even madam deputy president told us to, eating akara, kuli kuli is the real deal
KING LOTTUME (@Lotenn…): There was hunger before he was born and at such the future generation should feel what he felt during his time or what?
I no really understand that statement
michael (@Dikwaramama): When a sitting president makes such assertion, it signifies hopelessness and implies that the president is incapable of tackling the problem. A decent thing to do will be to hand over the reigns of leadership to someone who better understand the challenges and how to solve them.
Kehinde (@Favour247): This man is just too dull… imagine that trash coming from his mouth. That’s the rubbish some people are supporting