Former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar took a swipe at President Bola Tinubu’s handling of the ongoing fuel subsidy crisis, referring to him as “TPain” in a pointed social media post on Thursday.
Atiku criticized Tinubu’s approach to subsidy management, attributing Nigeria’s worsening economic conditions to what he described as a “haphazard and disingenuous” policy framework.
In his statement, Atiku voiced deep concern about the escalating inflation rates, highlighting the severe impact on Nigerians’ standard of living.
He expressed frustration that despite the hardships, President Tinubu appeared indifferent to the growing financial strain on the populace.
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“The haphazard and disingenuous approach of the current administration to fuel subsidy management has driven us into this economic crisis,” Atiku tweeted.
“There will be no relief from the rising inflation rate, which is eroding the material well-being of Nigerians. Even more worrying, TPain seems undisturbed by the ongoing hardship.”
The term “TPain,” a fusion of Tinubu’s initials and the name of American rapper T-Pain, first gained traction in April 2024 on social media.
It surged in popularity following Tinubu’s visit to Maiduguri in September, where frustrations over the cost of living boiled over on platforms like X and Instagram.
As inflation continues to rise, Atiku’s sharp critique underscores the mounting discontent over Tinubu’s economic policies, particularly in relation to fuel subsidy removal and its wider implications on Nigerian livelihoods.
(Edited by Oludare Mayowa; omayowa@globalfinancialdigest.com; Newsroom: +234 8033 964 138)
