Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s handling of Nigeria’s fuel subsidy crisis, referring to him by the nickname “TPain” in a tweet posted on Thursday.
Atiku attributed the country’s ongoing economic challenges to what he called the “haphazard and disingenuous approach” of the Tinubu administration in managing the fuel subsidy removal, which has led to widespread financial hardship for Nigerians.
In his statement, Atiku expressed deep concern over the rising inflation, noting that it is having a devastating effect on the lives of ordinary citizens. He accused President Tinubu of being indifferent to the growing struggles of Nigerians, who are grappling with the high cost of living.
Atiku stated, “The haphazard and disingenuous approach of the current administration to fuel subsidy management has been the reason we are in this current economic crisis in the country.” He further warned that, given the current state of affairs, there is little hope for relief from the escalating inflation, which he said is severely eroding the material well-being of Nigerians.
Atiku also voiced concern that Tinubu seems unconcerned about the suffering of the people. He added, “It is even more worrying that T-pain is undisturbed by the hardship in the country.”
The term “TPain,” which Atiku used to describe Tinubu, is a play on the president’s first initial and the name of the popular American rapper and producer T-Pain. The nickname has emerged as a reflection of the frustrations many Nigerians feel toward Tinubu, particularly over the increasing cost of living under his administration.
According to Peoples Gazette, the nickname first appeared on social media as early as April 2024 but gained significant popularity around September 16, after a social media user on X (formerly Twitter) used it while commenting on President Tinubu’s visit to Maiduguri to console flood victims. Since then, the term has gained traction on platforms such as X and Instagram, becoming widely used in discussions about the president’s leadership and the economic difficulties facing the nation.
