“It’s official” – Nigerians react as Atiku calls Tinubu ‘T-Pain’ amid economic hardship

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has sparked mixed reactions over his recent comment referring to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as “T-Pain”.

Atiku in an X post on Thursday while reacting to the recent increase in the price of petrol criticized Tinubu’s handling of the fuel subsidy crisis and referred to him as “TPain”

Atiku attributed the current economic challenges facing Nigeria to what he described as the “haphazard and disingenuous approach” of the Tinubu administration to fuel subsidy management.

He lamented that despite the growing hardships, Tinubu appears unfazed by the plight of the citizens.

“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.

“As things stand, there will be no let up in the escalating inflation rate, which is drowning the material well-being of Nigerians.

“It is even more worrying that T-pain is undisturbed by the hardship in the country,” Atiku wrote.

The nickname ‘T’pain for Tinubu emerged as a play on the first letter of his name and the name of American rapper and producer T-Pain, sparked by frustrations over the rising cost of living under his administration.

According to Peoples Gazette, the earliest mention of the term on social media dates back to April 2024.

However, it gained significant traction around September 16, after a user on X used it while discussing the President’s visit to Maiduguri to console flood victims.

It was amplified by a satirist and social media influencer, Dan Bello whose real name is Bello Galadanci when he released a viral remix of T-Pain’s “Buy You A Drink.” The remix was titled “T-Pain Nigerian Version”

The term has gained traction on platforms like X and Instagram.