Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, recently spoke out against the nickname “T-Pain,” which Nigerians have attributed to the president in response to current economic difficulties. He described this label as “mischievous,” emphasizing that it misrepresents the administration’s intentions.

The nickname emerged among citizens frustrated with policies they perceive as exacerbating economic hardship. While the government argues that these reforms are necessary for long-term economic stabilization, the public sentiment reflects dissatisfaction over inflation and cost-of-living increases, which many link to recent policy changes.
Addressing the matter on Sunday, in an interview with Channels TV, Onanuga said Tinubu has not come to inflict pain on Nigerians but to “repair the economy.”

According to him, “the President is aware that the citizens are going through some difficulties,” but he is not aware that some persons have labelled him T-Pain on social media as “the President does not read what is on social media.”

He said: “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.”