So Buhari Said Nigerian Youths Are Lazy And Twitter Is Angry?

President Muhamadu Buhari is known to be media shy. Since he became the President in 2015, he has only had one Presidential media. So, when his convo is not scripted, he is very likely he will speak off-the-curve!

Remember when he said his wife belongs to his kitchen. He said this during a joint press conference alongside German Chancellor Angela Merkel, in Berlin, Germany. He was duly criticised for the statement whose gratify he did not immediately realise.

Today, the #LazyNigerianYouths have been the top trend on Nigerian twitter because of the President described the youths-which make half the country’s over 170 million population as lazy. He made this statement at the Commonwealth Business Forum in Westminster.

https://youtu.be/oYjGQv1sWlo

Buhari said:

About the economy, we have a very young population, our population is estimated conservatively to be 180 million. This is a very conservative one. More than 60 percent of the population is below 30, a lot of them haven’t been to school? and they are claiming that Nigeria is an oil producing country, therefore, they should sit and do nothing, and get housing, healthcare, education free.

Well, trust Nigerians on Twitter. They reacted telling the president in clear terms that: “We are not lazy”. They shared pictures of what they do and how they are working hard to make earns meet.

I'm Tahir, graduated 2:1in Microbiology at the University of ilorin. No good job after NYSC, so I started a logistics company in Lagos @TabikExpress. I provide jobs for other Nigerian youths, I'm not even 25, I'm not lazy. We are not lazy.#LazyNigerianYouths pic.twitter.com/mBkaToZkmq

— Afonja 🦁 (@tarheer) April 19, 2018

https://twitter.com/Rouvafe/status/987004310423785473

13 years in business, over 30 employees, 9 branches. We provide our electricity, water, etc. We pay our #taxes, #VAT and other levies. Oldest among us is younger than 40yrs, our MD is 32yrs old. We are Nigerian Youths and we are not lazy#LazyNigerianYouths #Naira4Dollar pic.twitter.com/Lqcs77vcWI

— Naira4Dollar (@Naira4Dollar) April 19, 2018

I am kuku not doing anything 🤷🏿‍♂️#LazyNigerianYouths pic.twitter.com/Qfj0beIINu

— Do2dtun Energy gAD (@iamDo2dtun) April 19, 2018

https://twitter.com/Tunnyking/status/986864010174849024

You'd finish school with good grade in Nigeria but you don't get to see jobs with good pay.

You'd start up a business but the economy is too add for you to succeed.

You'd start making money but SARS will take you as a criminal.

Nigerian youth are not lazy. #LazyNigerianYouths

— GiveawayNaija (@GiveawayNAlJA) April 19, 2018

This #LazyNigerianYouths trending tag is ridiculous. All youth I've ever met and worked with in Nigeria are doing amazing things, working incredibly hard and hustling to make a difference in their communities and cities. Nigeria is an amazing country with inspiring youth! 🇳🇬❤ pic.twitter.com/NY7kxDwwv2

— Ulrich Janse van Vuuren (@UlrichJvV) April 19, 2018

https://twitter.com/Bhadoosky/status/986893832288718848

https://twitter.com/jackdre02/status/986859755028320256

https://twitter.com/surh__says/status/986933954858176512

I am Nigerian. I paint homes and offices for a living.@MBuhari I am not lazy, we are not lazy!#LazyNigerianYouths pic.twitter.com/OE9Qulzrtn

— The Lady Painter (@LadyPainterNG) April 19, 2018

https://twitter.com/iSlimfit/status/986889444979544064

https://twitter.com/natubabe1/status/986958849432342530

Just imagine this display of ignorance! “A lot of them haven’t been to school” that’s an issue you should be tackling! @MBuhari you know this! Fix it! Don’t use it as an excuse for your incompetence 🤦🏽‍♀️#LazyNigerianYouths pic.twitter.com/bSGAhX7kgK

— Oge.O (@dorcasDugan) April 19, 2018

Amidst this anger, Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to Mr President on Media and Publicity released a statement. It read in part:

There is no way President Buhari, father of the Nigerian nation in every sense of the word, who equally has biological children of his own in the youths age bracket, pass a vote of no confidence on all youths. It can only exist in the imagination of those who play what the President has described as “irresponsible politics” with everything.

The fact remains a lot of Nigerians are engaged in legitimate activities within and outside the country and they are definitely not lazy! The best the government can do right now is to create an enabling environment for youths to thrive. #LazyNigerianYouths