It is no longer news that the former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has died.

The announcement came late last night, stating that he passed away at a private hospital in London on July 13, 2025, after a brief illness. His death, unsurprisingly, has triggered mixed reactions across the country, ranging from prayers for his departed soul and celebration from frustrated citizens.

While some political allies and loyalists mourned him, many Nigerians, especially the youth, are openly celebrating having endured his two-term administration, largely marked by economic hardship, broken promises, and silence in times of crisis.

Breaking News: Nigerian Northerners troop out on the street in mass to jubilate over the passing of former President Muhammadu Buhari. | #RwGBlog

Watch Full Video Here 👉 https://t.co/S4Jshwmwlp

The North | Uncle Tosin | Chelsea
Obasanjo pic.twitter.com/8L9JtTb5nj

— RwGBlog 🇳🇬 (@rwgblog_) July 14, 2025

Most of the criticism stems from his years in office, during which Nigeria slipped into two recessions and millions fell deeper into poverty. Yet, amid all this, Buhari’s government maintained an alarmingly extravagant lifestyle within Aso Rock. The feeding budget for the presidency alone raised eyebrows every year.

What Buhari Was Eating In Aso Rock

Buhari ate good, or so it seems. In Buhari’s 2017 budget, ₦850 million was allocated for food, cooking gas, and kitchen utensils at Aso Rock:

• ₦100.8 million for kitchen utensils (forks, knives, etc.)

• ₦360 million for foodstuffs and catering materials

• ₦63 million for cooking gas

• ₦114.9 million for the president’s food alone

According to the report, this breakdown was part of the ₦42 billion total allocated to the State House. Analysts noted that the utensil budget alone could have built at least five health centres. Premium Times also reported that in just three years, the presidency spent over ₦420 million on catering equipment alone, excluding food and gas, a figure they said could have reversed malnutrition among children in IDP camps.

They were definitely cooking up a storm with that exorbitant amount. But, alas! a friend of the deceased president in an interview in 2015 said his best food was a simple meal. It wasn’t steak or the most expensive meal in the world. It was a humble meal called tuwo alikama.

Alhaji Ahmed Babankowa, a retired police commissioner and close associate of Buhari for over four decades, said Buhari had a deep love for tuwo alikama (a wheat-based dish) served with various local soups like okra. Even while travelling, meals were pre-packed and stored in the convoy. His drink choices were also modest. Fanta, Coca-Cola, and water made up his beverage selection, no alcohol and no wine.

Despite the hardship many Nigerians faced during his time in office, Buhari, according to Babankowa, reportedly never missed his three square meals, but his simplicity did not stop Aso Rock from becoming a palace of excess.

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Recently, Garba Shehu, Buhari’s former spokesperson, also attempted to paint a picture of modesty in his book Lessons from a Presidential Spokesperson’s Experience. He wrote that Buhari ate basic foods like:

• Tuwo (dough-like dishes made from grains)

• Pap

• Akara (bean cake), Beans

• Wheat

• Salads

• Poultry

• Mutton

According to him, Buhari once rejected a ₦10 million meal budget and demanded it be slashed. Despite enjoying the most carefully prepared and lavish meals, Nigerian leaders, including Buhari, continue to frequently fly abroad for medical treatment.

Like Buhari, Like Tinubu

This wasteful pattern, unfortunately, continues with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. In his 2024 budget, Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima allocated ₦660.5 million for meals, amounting to ₦1.8 million daily. The president’s office alone will spend over ₦287 million on foodstuffs and another ₦33.6 million on “refreshments and meals.”

If tomorrow, Tinubu’s spokesperson writes a book and claims his best food was agbado paired with ube, and that was most of what he ate in Aso Rock during his tenure, would you be surprised? While Buhari may have had simple tastes, the structure and operations of Aso Rock were anything but frugal. Whether Garba Shehu’s comments were true or not, we may never truly know.

The 2027 presidential aspirant, Peter Obi, has reacted to criticisms that trailed the viral photos and videos of him serving food at a recent event in Imo State.

Responding to critics in a post on his official X account on Sunday, July 13, 2025, Obi said his gesture was borne out of humility and service to humanity.

The former Anambra State Governor stressed that the act was not intended to be a campaign strategy, accusing “paid agents” of twisting a sincere gesture into “something political.”

He urged Nigerians to have a mind shift away from performative charity to a culture of consistent compassion.

ALSO READ: Atiku-Obi merger can’t stop Tinubu in 2027 – Presidency

This is coming on the heels of a wave of criticisms that greeted the footage, which showed Obi carrying a tray of food and serving guests at the Jubilee of Hope event in Imo state last weekend.

“My weekend activity of serving food at a special event has been generating interest, as expectedly, because leaders in our society have removed the service component in leadership,” he wrote.

“It’s sounding strange that I was seen serving food to people. Let me be clear, that event was not about me. It was called the Jubilee of Hope, and its purpose is straightforward, to remind us all that true leadership is service, and that those who have must never forget those who do not.”

Obi says he didn’t serve food for the cameras

The Labour Party presidential flag-bearer in 2023 stated that he neither posted about the event nor invited media, adding that content from the event found its way to the internet through third parties outside of his team.

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“As expected, the usual naysayers and paid agents went to work trying to twist something sincere into something political,” he added.

Obi stressed that the Jubilee of Hope wasn’t a performative gathering, but rather a conscientious event, where the privileged are reminded of their responsibility to the less fortunate.

“But let me restate the heart of the matter, the Jubilee of Hope is designed for the rich to come down from their high places, even if just for a moment, and serve the poor, not as a show, but as a symbol of the society we must build. A society anchored on empathy, equity, and responsibility,” he said.

He clarified that he wasn’t the only attendee who served food at the occasion, naming other prominent Nigerians, including John Onaiyekan, a cardinal and former Catholic archbishop of Abuja, Osita Izunaso, and A.B.C. Orjiako, former chairman of Seplat Plc, as co-participants in the outreach.

“It wasn’t about the cameras; it was about conscience.

“I am genuinely surprised that this simple act has become a topic of discussion. As Governor, I always served others whenever we had events. Even now, in private life, I do not have a house help.

“When guests visit my home, I serve them myself. I live simply, I sweep, I clean, because for me, humility is not a campaign strategy; it is a way of life,” he wrote.

The presidential hopeful further disclosed that he chose to stay longer at the event because many of the underprivileged in attendance requested to be served directly by him.

“I could not ignore them. That was the only reason. Otherwise, there was nothing special about what I did. Service is not special; it is expected.

ALSO READ: ‘This is how society should be’: Obi explains viral food-sharing moment

“We cannot speak of building a New Nigeria while ignoring the hungry, the forgotten, and the poor. Events like this must not remain symbolic; they must become cultural. Public office holders, business leaders, and everyday citizens must unite in lifting others.

“Let us work together to build a country where hope is not seasonal, and dignity is not a privilege, but a right,” Obi concluded.

Saving money in Nigeria is already tough. Given the fluctuating economy and rising dollar rate, it’s become increasingly clear that our salaries can barely meet our needs.

Now, imagine someone popping out of nowhere to ask you for urgent 2k on top of all these. Can be frustrating, right? And it often feels like they have a GPS tracker to know when small amounts of money drop into your account.

Whether it’s your cousin, old classmate, or friend who only remembers you when sapa comes visiting, you need to learn how to handle the situation and not seem like the stingy villain.

Here are all the important tips to help you save, even when the requests are at their peak.

Create a giveaway budget 

Yes, you heard that right. Often, the best way to avoid certain problems is to embrace them. So, embrace the fact that there’ll always be requests. So instead of rejecting all requests and feeling like a wicked person, set aside a certain amount for giveaway every month. This way, you can control how much you give without feeling like you’ve let your philanthropic side down. If anyone comes when the pot is empty, you can always move till next month. At least, it helps you stick to a budget and not use money meant for other purposes.

Automate your savings

With the economy going the way it’s going, you may sometimes forget to save until you’ve finished your income. That’s why we often advise people to automate their income. This way, a part of your income gets moved to somewhere safe as soon as it drops. It’s a great way to avoid being overwhelmed by urgent 2k requests, so you can focus on saving.

Learn to say no – politely but firmly 

This one is tough because Nigerians don’t like hearing “no.” They will guilt-trip you. You’ll hear statements like:

• After all we’ve been through together?

• So, this is how you want to treat your old, true friend?

When they come with these gimmicks, learn to stand your ground. Smile, and sound as diplomatic as possible while turning down their requests. You’ll be surprised by how quickly they’ll move to the DM of another sponsor.

Use the lock savings feature

Most savings apps now have a “locked” or “target” saving option, meaning you can’t withdraw until a set date. So when the urgent 2k message lands, you can genuinely say, “Ah, I for help oh, but my money dey locked.”

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It’s not even a lie. Your money is chilling in financial prison, waiting for freedom day.

Remember the why

Saving is hard when you keep giving in to every request. But the question is, “how can you avoid giving in?” A good strategy is always to remember why you’re saving in the first place. If you remember you’re saving to travel, for instance, no amount of 2k requests will change your resolve. You know what you want, and you’re gunning for it.