Anger has continued to trail the sarcastic “Let The Poor Breathe joke” by the Godswill Akpabio-led Senate amid the prevailing economic hardship in the country.…

Anger has continued to trail the sarcastic “Let The Poor Breathe joke” by the Godswill Akpabio-led Senate amid the prevailing economic hardship in the country.

Nigerians have been complaining about petrol price hike and its effect on commodities.

Some schools had increased tuition fees while electricity companies had moved to raise tarrif.

On Tuesday, Akpabio, while urging the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the electricity distribution companies to stop their proposed electricity tariff increment, passed a motion in a manner many considered ridiculous.

“The prayer is that, let the poor breathe, and Senator Mustapha has seconded that the poor should breathe. Those who are in support of the additional prayer that the poor should be allowed to breathe, say ‘ayes’ and those who are against say ‘nay,’” Akpabio had said jocularly as echoes of laughter reverberated at plenary.

In response, the senators said, “aye”, to which Akpabio said, “The ayes have it! The poor must be allowed to breathe.”

Reacting on ARISE TV’s Breakfast Programme, The Morning Show, Rufai Oseni, the host, said, “I don’t know what is so funny about a bunch of guys that got 17 billion while others didn’t get anything. And I don’t know what’s funny about a bunch of guys that are constantly fleecing this country with everything they have or this country has to give to them and I don’t know what’s funny about a bunch of guys that just sit up there and big fat salaries that they don’t know how much and they can’t even state how much.

“They collect over N100billion every year to run a bunch of less than 500 guys and they sit and mock the poor people of this country. It’s just reflective of the insensitivity of these bunch of guys. Their fat over bloated pockets with their fat ‘Babaringa’. They laugh at the insensitivity of the pain of Nigeria.”

Prof. Pat Utomi, notable scholar and critic, also expressed his displeasure over the controversial remark.

“I am traumatized by this mocking of the poor by our Senate. In a decent society we should have had resignations by now. I am traumatized by this mocking of the poor by our Senate. In a decent society we should have had resignations by now. To mock the poor is to mock God. I know where Godswill Akpabio was before Obong Victor Attah gave a hand. Better an honest poor than a rich thief politician.

“I wonder what it will take to make people realize that values shape human progress. Sustainable progress is not possible where culture is in collapse and institutions are dysfunctional. Sadly this seems extant in Nigeria. Citizens need to be awakened to where we are.

“To abuse public trust and mock the victims as is becoming a habit of the criminal network of our politicians is to forget how transient power is. All will do well to remember the Judgment of Conscience, the judgment of history, and the Judgement of God. He reigns,” he tweeted.

Tweeting via @yusdgyd1, one Yusuf Dingiyadi, wrote: “They shouldn’t joke about it, because Nigerians are watching them. @oficialGAkpabio must do the needful action through his power. You can banter on issues of imminent importance like suffering.”

@AUmarsafana2917: “This isn’t a joke matter ooh. The masses are suffering and you’re sitting there making a joke of it.”

@Sir_Shehu: “There’s Nothing ironic about this mockery or unnecessary/Insensitive joke made by Akpabio, that seat doesn’t deserve a comedian and not even in this disputable times.”

@XBlackSparrow: “They impoverish you, then go on to make a mockery of your sufferings. You in turn laugh it off, recognizing the Nigerian ability to find the cruise in everything. Amid the regional pockets of unrest, you won’t find a more acute confirmation that we as a people are peaceful.”

@Ibrahymlekan: “This is the highest degree of insensitivity to the plight of downtrodden Nigerians striving to make meaning and living from this economic starvation without a human face.”

@afamsson: “Our political elites are cut away from the reality of Nigeria of today yet we feed them with money from taxpayers, sadly they are enabled by some stomach infrastructure Nigerians. Babylonians in power.”

@comtivist: “Those who think that making a comedy of the suffering in the country is the only way they can perform their legislative duty must be prepared to face the backlash from the people they are suffocating by their inaction. Security agencies should note its security implications.”

@emmanuel_yours: “Nigerians facing hardship due to government’s policy of fuel subsidy removal are being mocked by those awaiting luxury SUV’s purchased with loans.”

@medan_laban: “He has to tender an unreserved apology to Nigerians. Using our money to enrich themselves. Pure wickedness”

@isaiah_eda18155: “These men are jokers. They have nothing to do in the chamber other than cracking jocks.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpMROKtbhLE

https://dailytrust.com/anger-as-akpabio-mocks-nigerians-amid-economic-hardship/

It is well with Nigeria

santakris:
It is well with Nigeria

is it?

It is quite unfortunate... Truth is he might not see it as a joke/mock whatever...


Where Ifind it annoying was when he said "if you are against the poor breathing say nay"... At that point iwas like wtf....


Using the poor to catch cruise... Poor people like westernlove

Jokers all of em... We need a batman in this Nigerian Gotham of ours

Well, that's a true representation of all Nigerians. We joke with everything. But I will advise the public not to take that matter any serious. The corruption we're talking about today started from all of u at home. From POS operators to petrol station operators to all other marketers, we're very insensitive, heartless and corrupt. So, "LET THE POOR BREATHE" joke is in line with Nigerian attitudes.

dre11:

Anger has continued to trail the sarcastic “Let The Poor Breathe joke” by the Godswill Akpabio-led Senate amid the prevailing economic hardship in the country.…






https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpMROKtbhLE

https://dailytrust.com/anger-as-akpabio-mocks-nigerians-amid-economic-hardship/


Nlfpmod

Anger my foot
Nothing will happen

santakris:
It is well with Nigeria

I don’t think so.

Sow the wind and reap the whirlwind!

The only people still supporting this gang of criminals are those who are destined to suffer just like lordviccodaguru the senseless gateman. It gives them utmost pleasure to see others suffer like them.
Just like this one. .
limeta(f): 8:37am
Anger my foot
Nothing will happen

Our useless politicians derive joy when seeing the downtrodden scrabble for crumbs and leftovers they throw at them ...



They've succeeded in diminishing the mental capacity of an average Nigerian to see evil as good

The morally rotten religion cum tribal bigot called IconicR will support this evil since any evil perpetrated by the Islamic parry, APC, is always cool with him/her

Hmmmm
Guys do you know that majority of Tinubu supporters make up large junk of "Let The Poor Breathe" ?? They're all over Twitter begging for money even here too. Suffering and smiling. They just create alternative monikers and use it to beg. How foolish and stupid can one be. Many of those that voted Tinubu did it base on tribalism. That's a fact. Not because of competence. Tinubu only competence is in Stealing.

We'll teach them lesson after the election. Who's learning the lessons now. Mumu people. Tribalism Kee una dia. Nonsense. Look at the bunch of clowns they sent to the national assembly all due to sentiment. Abeg this country no fit better with these idiots in power.

Let the poor breet

Hmmm

Opposition will wail over anything!

Are PDP members and LP members there not using their mouth to shout yeeeeee

Tinubu supporters should allow Peter Obi and Nigerians to breathe

They just don't get it, the pain of the masses is being used to make fun, Nigerians don't have a breaking point, they can't even try this if Nigeria were to be one of those Arab nations, how can you be making mockery of the pain you imposed on the people.

When den go do d cloth "let the poor breathe"

Candidlady:
It is quite unfortunate... Truth is he might not see it as a joke/mock whatever...


Where Ifind it annoying was when he said "if you are against the poor breathing say nay"... At that point iwas like wtf....


Using the poor to catch cruise... Poor people like westernlove

Jokers all of em... We need a batman in this Nigerian Gotham of ours

I see a true fan of Batman and Robin.

...but where you guys expecting this career politicians to understand your plights?

For me, this is the least of madness I'm expecting from this politicians.

Those untrained children were shouting 'let the poor breet', one of their Sen. Move the motion in the Senate and it seconded and voted for.

I don't see any problem here except the manner in which the SP was smiling.

Well, I think those untrained children should be happy Atleast what they predicted will happen to their Country is already happening to them.

"Wetin you dey think for mind na him you be"

santakris:
It is well with Nigeria

It is not. We are in deep soup. Very deep soup

Why won't they mock the poor when the poor themselves don't know their value? It's the same poor that drive the economy and make them rich. Sad.

No wonder obi-diots wail about hardship everyday
Seems most of them are so jobless that every unintended act triggers a reaction from them

Nigeria is gone to the dogs. Dollar 💰1 dollar is now 880 naira. Tinubu has finished Nigeria. Tinubu return Nigeria where you met it

Nothing good about APC

Nigeria really have heartless and wicked leadership

Let the poor descend on their oppressors. No wait, that is demanding/beggerly in tone. The poor SHOULD descend on their oppressors!!
Nansense.