Onanuga: Tinubu not ‘T-pain’… he’s working hard to relieve Nigerians’ pains

Bayo Onanuga, special adviser on information and strategy to President Bola Tinubu, says his principal feels the pains Nigerians are currently experiencing.

Speaking on Sunday Politics, a programme on Channels Television, Onanuga said Tinubu is not “T-pain”.

T-pain is the stage name of Faheem Najm, a singer in the United States.

“T-pain” in Nigeria’s social media space was coined from “Tinubu” and “pain”, and has been deployed as the president’s moniker due to the pervasive economic hardship across the nation.

Onanuga said though Tinubu’s policies may have attendant hardship, the aim is to reform the economy.

“The president is aware that the citizens are going through some difficulties,” he said.

“The president does not read what is on the social media. Some people have also responded and called the president a different name. So, as far as I am concerned, it is a non-issue.

“Some people out of mischief just say somebody is a T-pain, He (Tinubu) is not T-pain.

“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.

“We are experiencing economic growth, despite inflation, revenues have increased.”

Early this month, Atiku Abubakar, former vice-president, said Tinubu is undisturbed by the hardship in the country.

The former vice-president criticised the increase in petrol price, describing Tinubu as “T-pain”.

“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,” Atiku had said.

“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.”