Mr. Bayo Onanuga
By Tony Folarin
Nigerians on social media have criticised presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, for his insistence that President Bola Tinubu is not unaware of the economic pain and hardship pulverizing the country.
Recall that on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Onanuga waved aside social media nicknames labelling Tinubu as “T-pain” as mischievous, reiterating that the President was committed to turning Nigeria’s economic fortunes around.
“President Tinubu feels the pain of Nigerians and assures them that relief is on the horizon.
“Some have resorted to calling him ‘T-pain’ out of mischief, but he is not that. He’s here to heal, not to hurt,” Onanuga had said.
Following Onanuga’s comments, some X and Facebook users knocked the Presidency, noting that if a description was worse than the “T-Pain,” it should be adopted.
On Facebook, Ogugua Oguamanam, said, “I don’t envy Bayo Onanuga. He is doing the job for which he is being paid. Defending the policies of President Tinubu that have inflicted hardship, pain, and loss of employment isn’t an easy thing to do. However, telling lies over time cannot make people believe it’s the truth. We the people are wearing the shoe and know where it pains most.”
“That’s what you have to say because (it) is your work. But if you don’t know, Nigerians are suffering,” another user, Stanley Odogwu, commented .
“I was thinking Tinubu is T-pain but he is more than that. He is T-pain 2.0,” @AustineOBrian stated on X.
“Should we call him ‘Feel-Pain’ then?” @VC_Ekezie asked.
@Chrisjay2531Jay said anything being denied by the government was true, adding “Tinubu is the real T-Pain. God save Nigeria. Deliver us from T-Pain.”
@dayoogedengbe wrote, “Very correct, he feels Nigerians pain in the newly purchased presidential jet and in the Escalade SUV.”
“I think Tinubu and his associates are out of touch with reality. Let’s say we understand that the pain is for the best, when will the best surface? Is it even going to happen? How is it going to happen? What exactly is the benefit of Nigerians in the long run?” the X user wrote.
Another X user wondered how the President could feel Nigeria’s pains and going on vacation. “He feels Nigerians’ pains but him dey go vacation when hin country dey suffer,” @Ohloowatoscene wrote in Pidgin.
@BOkpole said, “There is no way @aonanuga1956 can successfully convince me that @officialABAT feels the pain we go through daily in this country. There are no goods or services with a stable price right now. You can’t even plan for the next day. To get internship space as a nurse, you need connection.”
@AndyAmbroseJos2 wrote, “I don’t know about that. If he wants us to know that he feels our pain, he knows what to do: he should just bring down the price of fuel and everything and everyone will be fine.”
“Yes, he is (T-Pain)! That man brought nothing but hardship to Nigerians,” @WasiuBadekale also stated.
A Facebook user, Ajayi Olonilua, stated “It’s unfortunate that Tinubu is rubbishing his reputation with these evil IMF policies and dragging along other respected democracy activists like Bayo Onanuga that fought dictatorship to a standstill. It’s a shame.”
The nickname ‘T-Pain’ for Tinubu emerged on social media as a play on the first letter of his name and the name of American rapper and producer T-Pain, sparked by frustrations over the rising cost of living under his administration.
The term has gained traction on platforms like X and Instagram.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also criticised Tinubu’s handling of the fuel subsidy crisis, referring to him as “T-Pain” in a tweet in October.
