An internal memo from the Aso Rock has revealed that President Bola Tinubu is troubled by the derogatory nickname “Tpain” circulating on social media, a reaction to the economic hardships Nigerians are enduring under his administration. Sources close to the president disclosed that he expressed deep frustration over the label during a recent meeting, lamenting that Nigerians would rather mock him than offer constructive solutions to the country’s challenges.
According to aides, the president voiced his disappointment, saying he was “very sad” that many citizens were quick to assign blame to his leadership for the economic downturn, rather than contributing ideas on how to resolve the crisis. “The president has been very sad and not hiding his frustration over how quickly the so-called ‘Tpain’ label spread on social media,” one aide told Peoples Gazette. “He feels attacked by unpatriotic individuals who use social media to criticize him without providing real solutions to the country’s issues.”
Another official confirmed that President Tinubu, while respectful of free speech, was concerned about the negative impact of social media ridicule on his administration. Discussions have reportedly taken place among his aides on how to counter the growing mockery, with concerns raised about its potential to distract from the government’s efforts to address pressing national issues.
The nickname, inspired by American rapper T-Pain, appears to have gained traction in recent months, particularly after an online post surfaced in mid-September, just after President Tinubu visited Maiduguri to offer support to flood victims. The tag “Tpain” is a play on the first letter of the president’s last name and references the hardship many Nigerians are currently facing.
Despite efforts by the administration to curb some of the prominent voices fueling the online campaign, the label has become a fixture in social media discussions about the president. Notably, the arrest of a critic on the platform X (formerly Twitter) in August 2024 sparked concerns about freedom of expression in the country.
Like many Nigerian leaders before him, Tinubu now faces the challenge of managing a reputation tarnished by a mocking nickname. However, unlike predecessors such as Ibrahim Babangida, dubbed “Maradona,” or Goodluck Jonathan, referred to as “Badluck,” Tinubu is the first to publicly express dissatisfaction with such a label, especially one that originated from social media.
President Tinubu took office in May 2023, when the U.S. dollar was exchanging at N425. Since then, the currency has plummeted, reaching N1,900 on both the official and black markets by October. The skyrocketing exchange rate, combined with the removal of fuel subsidies, has driven inflation to a staggering 38%, pushing millions of Nigerians into hunger and poverty.
Protests erupted in several cities, including Kano and Ibadan, as citizens struggled to afford basic necessities like rice and bread. Meanwhile, youth unemployment, which stood at 51% when Tinubu assumed office, continues to worsen.
While Tinubu’s administration has introduced a series of reforms—such as floating the naira and easing regulatory bottlenecks—the president acknowledges that only tangible results will restore faith among the populace. Measures like promoting gas-powered vehicles to reduce transportation costs and removing tariffs on essential food imports have been rolled out, but the economic relief many Nigerians desperately seek remains elusive.
With discontent rising and patience running thin, Tinubu faces an uphill battle to deliver on the promises of progressive change that he championed during his long-standing career as a pro-democracy activist.
