A heated wave of public backlash has swept across the country after First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu invited Senate President Godswill Akpabio and all senators to a dinner slated for Friday at the Presidential Villa.
The invitation — formally read by Akpabio during Tuesday’s plenary — framed the gathering as “an interactive session aimed at fostering insightful discussions on national progress.” The First Lady noted she looked forward to hosting lawmakers at 6 p.m. in the Banquet Hall.
But outside the chambers, the reaction could not have been more different. For many Nigerians, the timing felt painfully out of touch — coming at a moment when the nation is groaning under severe economic hardship, rising insecurity, and fresh mourning over recent tragedies.
Almost instantly, social media became a battlefield of frustration.
@NaijaEyeWitness questioned the entire premise:
“Only in Nigeria do lawmakers get invited to the State House by the First Lady. Which office exactly is she using?”
Others touched on the emotional toll of the country’s struggles.
@AdaForJustice wrote:
“People are crying over missing daughters and families are in mourning, but senators are preparing for dinner.”
The criticism poured in from every corner:
@TheStreetAnalyst:
“These leaders don’t feel our pain. AC and buffet for them, hunger for the rest of us.”
@ChidiOfEnugu joked bitterly:
“If it’s free food, all of them will show up in agbada. That one is sure.”
Some drew deeper symbolism from the event:
@BibleLensNigeria noted:
“This dinner is giving Esther inviting Haman vibes. There’s more to this than they’re saying.”
Others didn’t mince words:
@SincereCitizen:
“Insensitivity at its peak! People are being killed and kidnapped, and you’re hosting a dinner?”
@TheHardTruthNG:
“How do you dine in splendour when the country is drowning?”
Beyond the anger, many Nigerians raised concerns about priorities, especially with insecurity spiraling nationwide.
@LagosCritic warned:
“Crime don spread everywhere. Leaders should focus on fixing the mess, not organising ceremonies.”
But perhaps the comment that captured the national mood came from @DejiTalks, who wrote:
“The senators will attend. They won’t miss free food. And that’s the saddest part.”
With tension rising online and offline, Nigerians now wait to see whether the controversial dinner will go on as planned — or whether public pressure will force a rethink.
What remains undeniable is this: at a time when citizens feel neglected, unheard, and weighed down by daily struggles, the political class preparing for a night of “interactive discussions” has struck many as a painful symbol of a widening disconnect.