Bayo Onanuga, special adviser on information and strategy to President Bola Tinubu, has addressed the rising criticism surrounding the nickname “T-pain,” a social media moniker for Tinubu.
The term “T-pain,” a combination of “Tinubu” and “pain,” reflects public frustration over Nigeria’s economic challenges and has been widely used online.
In an interview with Channels Television, Onanuga clarified that President Tinubu is aware of the difficulties Nigerians face but is committed to improving the economy. “The president is aware that the citizens are going through some difficulties,” he said.
He also dismissed the social media nickname as irrelevant to Tinubu’s mission: “The president does not read what is on social media… Some people out of mischief just say somebody is a T-pain. He [Tinubu] is not T-pain.”
Onanuga insisted that while Tinubu’s policies may bring short-term hardship, they are aimed at long-term economic reform. “The president has never shied away from telling Nigerians that he feels their pain and he is working very hard to make sure that he gives them some relief so that things will get better and this country will get more prosperity,” he said. “We are experiencing economic growth, despite inflation; revenues have increased.”
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had attacked Tinubu earlier this month, calling him “T-pain” and casting doubt on his handling of the economic crisis, especially the rise in petrol prices. “It is even more worrying that T-pain is undisturbed by the hardship in the country,” Atiku said, blaming the administration’s gasoline subsidy management strategy for the nation’s present economic woes.
Tinubu’s administration is coming under increasing public criticism due to inflation and economic challenges in Nigeria, but Onanuga insisted that the president is focused on the country’s long-term success.
