President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been given many nicknames by Nigerians, each representing different parts of his personality and political journey.
Tinubu was recently named T-Pain, reflecting the economic hardship Nigerians are facing under his administration.
However, Tinubu’s supporters have rebranded the nickname to temporary pain, reflecting the president’s manifesto “hope renewed” T-Pain is the fifth and latest nickname President Tinubu would be getting, in addition to others that have been existing for long.
Here’s an explanation of what some of these names mean.
1. Jagaban
Supporters call Tinubu “Jagaban” to show that they see him as a strong leader.
In Hausa, “Jagaban” means a leader who is at the front, similar to a war commander. This name points to his influential and decisive role in Nigerian politics, especially in Lagos.
2. Asiwaju
“Asiwaju” means “front-runner” in Yoruba. This nickname reflects Tinubu’s ability to lead and set trends in politics. It shows he is a pioneer who has shaped how politics is done in Nigeria.
3. City Boy
“City Boy” connects Tinubu to the lively city life of Lagos, where he has made a big impact. The name suggests he’s like the character in stories about young people who move to the city and succeed through hard work.
It showed his deep ties and influence in Lagos, a major urban centre.
4. Emilokan
“Emilokan,” which translates to “It’s my turn,” comes from Tinubu’s campaign slogan. It was used by his supporters during his presidential campaign to show that they believed it was his time to lead the country after many years in politics.
5. T-Pain
This newer, humorous nickname was inspired by the American musician T-Pain. It originally reflected the economic difficulties faced by Nigerians, especially after the fuel subsidy was removed. However, his supporters now use “T-Pain” to mean “temporary pain,” suggesting that any challenges during his presidency will be short-lived.
