Netizens knock Senate for ‘mocking’ impoverished Nigerians

Netizens have taken to social media platforms to knock the Senate for appearing to ‘mock’ poor Nigerians during plenary on Tuesday in a viral video. The lawmakers were seen in the video making fun of the popular slang, ‘Let the poor breathe’.

While deliberating on a resolution, the Senate urged the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and 11 Electricity Distribution Companies to halt their proposed tariff increase in order to “allow Nigerians to breathe.”

In the video making the rounds on social media on Wednesday, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, could be seen laughing with other senators after saying the phrase “Let the poor breathe,” before hitting the gavel on the table.

Reacting to the video, hypemanguru wrote, “This is a mockery to the most populous black nation on earth, such a derogatory term used to describe Nigerians by its leaders. It is a sh#me to all Nigerians. I reject being called poor. Words are powerful !!”

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Another Instagram user, iamhoustyforbes said, “I said it, Tinubu will weaponize poverty and use it against Nigerians. And it’s already happening, the masses will pay for everything, he will even tax you for sleeping at your home at night, and he is already taxing car owners 1k yearly. His administration is designed to favour politicians. It’s going to be a long ride but he will lose the wheel because Peter Obi will take over. I just pray he has not done more damage before then.”

iyke1steel simply said, “These people are making a mockery of Nigerians.”

While thefoodnetworking2 said, “As you lay your bed, you lie on it! They know all we do is “cruise” about everything! We don’t challenge them for the hardship…We just cruise and cruise some more…Why won’t they mock us?”

The Senate also called for a halt to the estimated billing by mandating the Discos to urgently supply all electricity consumers with prepaid meters at affordable rates across the country.