Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has openly criticised President Bola Tinubu’s management of the fuel subsidy crisis, labelling him “TPain” in a tweet on Thursday.
The Guardian reports that Atiku’s X post followed the increase of petrol pump prices on Wednesday by retail outlets of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) in Lagos and Abuja, as well as, other parts of the nation.
In Lagos, NNPCL outlets sold a litre of petrol for ₦998, which is ₦150 higher than the initial price of ₦855 while in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) capital of Abuja the commodity increased to ₦1,030 from ₦897.
Atiku attributed Nigeria’s current economic difficulties to what he described as the “haphazard and disingenuous approach” of the Tinubu administration towards fuel subsidy management.
He expressed concern over the soaring inflation rate, stressing its detrimental impact on the lives of everyday Nigerians.
He wrote, “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.”
Atiku lamented that, despite the growing hardships faced by citizens, President Tinubu appears indifferent to their plight, saying: “It is even more worrying that T-pain is undisturbed by the hardship in the country.
The nickname ‘TPain’ for Tinubu is a play on the first letter of his name and that of American rapper and producer T-Pain, reflecting public frustrations over the rising cost of living during his administration.
According to Peoples Gazette, the term first emerged on social media in April 2024 but gained significant traction around September 16, following a user on X discussing the President’s visit to Maiduguri to console flood victims. Since then, it has proliferated on platforms like X and Instagram.
