Students at the Delta State School of Nursing in Agbor delivered a stinging public rebuke to First Lady Remi Tinubu during her visit on Tuesday. What was meant to be a routine advocacy event for free HIV/AIDS treatment programs turned into a viral spectacle of defiance, as the students openly mocked the First Lady with a biting chant: “Na your mama be this!” The incident, captured on video before mysteriously disappearing amid reports of threats, has become a lightning rod for the growing discontent with President Bola Tinubu’s administration—a leadership many Nigerians now view as out of touch, oppressive, and mired in controversy.
The scene unfolded as Remi Tinubu, dressed in elegant traditional attire, stood before the students, her visit part of a broader campaign to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and female genital mutilation. The Master of Ceremony, in an attempt to rally the crowd, led a song meant to honor the First Lady: “Na my mama be this o, we no get another one.” But the students, in a unified act of rebellion, flipped the lyrics with a sarcastic retort: “Na your mama be this ooooo!” The phrase, steeped in Nigerian Pidgin—a lingua franca that often carries the raw pulse of the streets—dripped with mockery, translating to a dismissive “She’s your mother, not ours!” The crowd erupted in laughter, but the moment was far from lighthearted. It was a bold, unfiltered expression of frustration, one that has since resonated with millions of Nigerians who feel crushed under the weight of economic hardship and political overreach.
A Nation on Edge: The Backdrop of Discontent
The viral incident in Agbor is not an isolated event but a symptom of a much larger malaise gripping Nigeria. Since President Bola Tinubu took office in May 2023, his administration has been plagued by criticism over policies that have deepened the country’s economic woes. The removal of the fuel subsidy—a move Tinubu announced with little warning on his inauguration day—sent shockwaves through the nation. Fuel prices skyrocketed, inflation soared to a staggering 34% (a nearly two-decade high), and the naira’s value plummeted, with 10,000 naira now worth just $6.80 compared to $22 a year ago. For ordinary Nigerians like Abubakar Sheka, a bread seller in Kano, the impact has been devastating. “Football talk is only sweet when the tummy is full,” Sheka told the BBC last year, noting that the price of bread has more than doubled, leaving many families unable to afford even basic staples.
Tinubu’s economic reforms, which also include floating the naira and overhauling economic governance structures, have been defended by his administration as necessary for long-term stability. Minister of Economic Planning Atiku Bagudu recently apologized for the “pains” caused by these policies but insisted they were “necessary.” Yet, for millions of Nigerians, the promised stability feels like a distant mirage. Wages have not kept pace with inflation, and the cost of living has become unbearable. Social media reactions to the Agbor incident reflect this frustration. “The First Lady is going about making huge donations, and nobody is asking where the money is coming from,” wrote X user @v_ogbunugafor, echoing a sentiment shared by many who question the Tinubu family’s wealth amid widespread poverty.
Political Firestorm: A State of Emergency and Accusations of Tyranny
The economic crisis is only one facet of the growing unrest. Just a week before the Agbor incident, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending the governor, deputy governor, and state lawmakers following a political crisis and an oil pipeline blast. The move, which the Nigerian Bar Association called “unconstitutional,” has been widely condemned as an attempt at “state capture.” The opposition PDP accused Tinubu of trying to turn Nigeria into a one-party state, while Peter Obi, a former presidential candidate, labeled the decision “reckless.” For many, this heavy-handed approach is reminiscent of past authoritarian regimes, fueling fears that Tinubu’s leadership is veering toward dictatorship.
The Rivers State crisis has only deepened the perception that Tinubu’s administration is more focused on consolidating power than addressing the needs of the people. “Rivers State is safe, secure, and peaceful under our watch,” Governor Fubara insisted in a measured response, but Tinubu’s decision to intervene has left many questioning his motives. The Trans-Niger Pipeline blast, which Tinubu cited as justification for the emergency, is just one of many attacks on Nigeria’s oil infrastructure—a problem that has persisted for years. Yet, critics argue that using it as a pretext to suspend elected officials is a dangerous precedent, one that threatens the country’s fragile democracy.
The Students’ Rebellion: A Voice for the Voiceless
Against this backdrop, the nursing students’ mockery of Remi Tinubu takes on a deeper significance. Their chant, delivered in Nigerian Pidgin—a language that transcends ethnic and social divides—gave voice to a generation that feels ignored and betrayed by the ruling elite. “Na your mama be this” is more than a taunt; it’s a rejection of the Tinubu family’s perceived entitlement and a reflection of the disconnect between Nigeria’s leaders and its youth. As one X user, @IamChukwuemeka, put it: “Actions have consequences. If children can’t respect elders, then I ponder the future we’re delving into.” Others, however, saw the students’ actions as a necessary pushback. “They’re IPOB youths,” claimed @PRINCIPAL_XYX, attempting to frame the incident as a regional conspiracy, while @edebak5 added a more nuanced take: “Buh is not good na,” alongside a screenshot of a bank transaction, perhaps hinting at the economic struggles that fuel such defiance.
The fallout from the incident has been swift and troubling. Unverified reports suggest that the student who filmed the event received threats, leading her to delete the video and deactivate her TikTok account. This has only added fuel to the fire, with many Nigerians accusing the government of trying to suppress dissent. “Na APC ronu bigots, voluntary slaves, and accursed fools followers na them mama be this,” wrote @monnyx49 on X, doubling down on the students’ sentiment and sharing the same image of Remi Tinubu that accompanied the original Sahara Reporters post.
A Statue of Gold, A Nation in Ruin
Adding to the controversy, another image circulating on X shows a golden statue of Remi Tinubu, unveiled at an unspecified location. The statue, depicting the First Lady in a regal pose, has sparked outrage among Nigerians who see it as a symbol of extravagance at a time when millions are struggling to survive. “To think that she is from Itshekiri in Delta State,” wrote @_Ekezie, pointing to the irony of Remi Tinubu’s roots in the same region where she was publicly humiliated. The statue has become a lightning rod for criticism, with many questioning how such a lavish monument could be justified amid Nigeria’s economic crisis.
The Road Ahead: A Tipping Point?
The Agbor incident, coupled with the Rivers State crisis and ongoing economic hardship, has brought Nigeria to a tipping point. President Tinubu’s administration has made some efforts to address corruption—such as the suspension of Humanitarian Affairs Minister Betta Edu over alleged financial misconduct—but these moves have done little to quell public anger. “Corruption has been a huge problem for decades, so it will be unfair to score him based on a year in office,” a former official from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission told the BBC last year. Yet, for many Nigerians, time is running out. The promises of “long-term stability” ring hollow when families can’t afford bread, fuel, or data to voice their frustrations online, as one user, @pardee_any1, complained to MTN in a reply to the Sahara Reporters post.
As the viral chant “Na your mama be this” echoes across social media, it’s clear that Nigerians are no longer willing to stay silent. The nursing students of Agbor have become an unlikely symbol of resistance, their defiance a warning to the Tinubu administration that the people’s patience is wearing thin. Whether this moment will spark a broader movement remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Nigeria is a nation on edge, and its leaders can no longer ignore the cries of a frustrated populace. The question now is, will Tinubu listen—or will the flames of discontent continue to burn brighter?
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