The Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Zacch Adedeji, has defended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against criticisms over his lifestyle, arguing that the President does not live as lavishly as some Nigerians believe.
Adedeji made the statement during a Sunday interview with Channels Television, where he was asked to comment on the lifestyles of political leaders at a time when Nigerians are dealing with economic hardship and rising living costs.
The NRS chairman said the public perception of Tinubu’s lifestyle does not reflect what he claimed to be the President’s daily routine. According to him, Tinubu spends much of his time working and does not frequently engage in activities that would ordinarily be associated with an extravagant lifestyle.
One of the claims that attracted attention was Adedeji’s assertion that the President sometimes walks from his residence to his office.
He explained that Tinubu does not routinely use a vehicle for the short journey between his residence and office, adding that the President only uses a vehicle when he needs to travel to the airport.
Adedeji questioned why the President’s official convoy and the vehicles attached to his movement should automatically be interpreted as evidence of personal extravagance.
The discussion also touched on reports concerning the number of Cadillac Escalade vehicles allegedly being used as part of the President’s convoy.
Rather than viewing the vehicles as proof that Tinubu is living beyond his means, Adedeji argued that the President, as the occupant of Nigeria’s highest political office, could legitimately afford such vehicles.
He questioned the criticism surrounding the reported use of the expensive SUVs, asking whether the cost of an Escalade was beyond the financial capacity of the President of Nigeria.
“How much is an Escalade that the President of Nigeria cannot afford?” he asked.
Adedeji also urged Nigerians to consider Tinubu’s lifestyle beyond the official vehicles and security arrangements that come with the presidency.
According to him, the President’s activities are largely centred on government business, with much of his time spent reviewing documents and attending to matters concerning the administration.
The NRS chief further claimed that Tinubu had not travelled outside Nigeria in the three months preceding the interview.
He presented the alleged lack of foreign travel as another indication that the President does not spend his time pursuing an extravagant lifestyle.
Adedeji said Nigerians could find the President at work reviewing official documents rather than travelling abroad for leisure.
He also questioned how frequently Tinubu had been seen at social gatherings since assuming office, asking Nigerians to identify occasions where the President had been publicly seen attending parties or taking holidays.
The NRS chairman said, “Mr President goes from home to office on foot, not even driving except when he is going to the airport. I don’t know where you see the convoy.”
He further asked Nigerians to remember Tinubu’s lifestyle before he became President, apparently suggesting that the President’s current position should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of a dramatic change in his personal habits.
The issue of the President’s eating habits also featured prominently in Adedeji’s defence. He claimed that Tinubu eats only once a day, presenting this as another example of what he described as a relatively restrained personal routine.
“The President eats once in a day,” Adedeji said.
He subsequently challenged those who accuse the President of living large to point to specific instances that would justify the description.
“How many parties have you seen him at in the last three years? Tell me where you have seen him, whether on holiday or anywhere?” he asked.
The comments have since generated reactions, with particular attention being paid to the claim that the President walks to his office and eats only once a day.
Adedeji’s remarks come against the backdrop of widespread public debate about the cost of governance and the privileges enjoyed by political office holders.
Many Nigerians have continued to question government spending while households contend with increased prices of food, transportation and other essential goods.
For critics, the debate over the President’s lifestyle is not necessarily limited to his personal habits.
It also extends to the cost of maintaining the presidency, including official vehicles, security personnel, accommodation, foreign trips and other facilities attached to the office.
Adedeji, however, appeared to draw a distinction between the resources required to operate the presidency and the personal lifestyle of the individual occupying the office.
His argument was that the presence of expensive vehicles or a presidential convoy should not, on its own, be used to conclude that Tinubu personally lives an extravagant life.
The NRS chairman maintained that the President remains focused on his official responsibilities and spends a significant amount of time working.
While his comments have stirred an online debate, the claims about Tinubu’s eating habits, walking routine and travel pattern remain statements made by Adedeji during the interview.
They have nevertheless added a new dimension to the continuing conversation over the lifestyle of Nigerian political leaders and the cost of governance.
The controversy also highlights the growing sensitivity surrounding the conduct of public officials at a period when economic conditions remain a major concern for millions of Nigerians.
For Adedeji, however, the President’s personal routine tells a different story from the image of extravagance being projected by some critics.
He argued that Tinubu’s limited social engagements, reported work routine and alleged restraint in his personal habits should be considered when assessing claims about his lifestyle.
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