. Tinubu’s subsidy approach behind Nigeria’s hardship, says Atiku
. Hardship under Tinubu fueling mental health problem – Obi
. My husband not cause of hardship, First Lady counters
Samuel Adesola, Abuja
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, on Thursday, lambasted President Bola Tinubu over the current economic hardship in the country.
But First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu swiftly came to the defence of her husband, stressing that President Tinubu shouldn’t be blamed for the current hardship in Nigeria.
Atiki, who deplored Tinubu’s handling of the fuel subsidy crisis, mockingly referred to the President as “TPain” in a tweet on Thursday.
He attributed the current economic challenges facing Nigeria to what he described as the “haphazard and disingenuous approach” of the Tinubu administration to fuel subsidy management.
In his statement, Atiku expressed concern about the escalating inflation rate, stating that it is severely impacting the lives of Nigerians.
He lamented that despite the growing hardships, Tinubu appears unfazed by the plight of the citizens.
“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.
“It is even more worrying that T-pain is undisturbed by the hardship in the country,” Atiku wrote.
The nickname ‘TPain’ for Tinubu emerged 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.
According to Peoples Gazette, the earliest mention of the term on social media dates back to April 2024.
However, it gained significant traction around September 16, after a user on X used it while discussing the President’s visit to Maiduguri to console flood victims.
The term has gained traction on platforms like X and Instagram.
In similar vein, Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Mr Peter Obi, said the worsening economic situation under the President Bola Tinubu-led administration is fuelling mental health cases, among other issues.
Obi stated this in his message as Nigeria joined the global community on Thursday to commemorate this year’s World Mental Health Day.
The former Anambra State governor in a post on his X handle, said mental health remains one of the critical health issues not given the attention it deserves in Nigeria.
He lamented the rising cases of suicide fuelled by anxiety and depression in the country.
Obi said, “In Nigeria, mental health remains one of the critical health issues not given the due attention it deserves.
“The worsening economic situation resulting from hunger, poverty, and income inequalities in the country, coupled with other socio-political issues affecting the nation, have continued to fuel a growing menace of mental health cases.
“The National Institute of Health reports that about 40 to 60 million Nigerians suffer various forms of mental ailment.”
But in a swift reaction, Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu said that her husband, President Bola Tinubu, should not be held responsible for the current economic hardship in Nigeria.
Mrs Tinubu spoke on Thursday at the palace of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.
She said Tinubu’s administration is still very young and should be given the chance by Nigerians.
The president’s wife was in Ife to inaugurate a hostel and a 2.7-kilometre road donated to Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile Ife, by the Ooni of Ife and named after her.
According to her, “We are just two years into our administration. We are not the cause of the current situation. We are trying to fix it and secure the future.
“We know that subsidy has been removed but with God on our side in the next two years, Nigeria will be greater than this. Those who attempted removing subsidy before could not see it through. But with your prayers in the next two years, we will build a nation for the future.”
Nigerians have been groaning under economic hardship since the removal of fuel subsidy which hiked the pump price of petrol from N198 to N1,030.
