Why akara and kulikuli trap always succeed

Nigerian First Lady Oluremi Tinubu's recent distribution of N50,000 grants to petty traders and party workers, framed as "empowerment," has ignited controversy. While the gesture aims to offer hope, the author, Dele Sobowale, views it through the lens of historical political deception, predicting the funds will vanish post-election.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu's specific suggestion of starting "akara and kulikuli" businesses, while intended to be encouraging, overshadows the deeper economic and social implications. The author acknowledges the First Lady's point that many global giants, like Colonel Sanders' Kentucky Fried Chicken, began as small, backyard operations. He agrees that honest labor, regardless of its nature, holds dignity and that idleness poses a significant threat to society.

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We are trying to give hope, and to start the akara business doesn’t take a lot of money. To start roasting corn, or somebody even said kulikuli, doesn’t take much….

However, Sobowale contends the First Lady is "half-right and half-wrong." He argues that while the dignity of labor is undeniable, the "empowerment" grants are fundamentally different from organic business growth. The core issue, he implies, is the temporary, politically motivated nature of these funds. The author draws a parallel to an economist's quote: "For someone who makes his living shoveling horse manure, a disaster occurs when there are no more horses." This suggests that relying on such temporary political largesse is precarious and ultimately detrimental.

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For someone who makes his living shoveling horse manure, a disaster occurs when there are no more horses