Phrank said the pockets of Nigerians are currently on life-support, hence the need to return to the era of plenty
By Kehinde Okeowo
Phrank Shaibu, the Special Assistant on Public Communication to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar has taken a swipe at President Bola Tinubu for saying Nigerians were living a “fake good life” prior to the removal of the fuel subsidy.
TheNiche had earlier reported that the president made the remark while speaking at the 34th and 35th combined convocation ceremonies of the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) in Ondo State.
Tinubu, who was represented by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Egbewole, said his administration’s decision to remove the petrol subsidy and unify exchange rates was necessary to prevent the country from falling into an economic crisis.
He said, “The subsidies were meant to support the poor and make life better for all Nigerians. Unfortunately, the good life we thought we were living was a fake one that was capable of leading the country to a total collapse unless drastic efforts were urgently taken.”
Responding to his assertions, Shaibu urged the president to take Nigerians back to the era of alleged “fake good life”.
He noted that the pockets of Nigerians are currently on life-support, hence the need to return to the era of plenty.
Speaking via his verified social media page, he tweeted: “If the good life before subsidy removal was fake, then this ‘real’ life must be the plot of a very bad Nollywood drama written by Mr. T-Pain.
“Can we at least get a refund on the script or take us back to living in the ‘fake’ world-at least we could afford to fake smiles back then.
“Now we’re stuck frowning in this ‘authentic’ struggle where our pockets are on life support.”
President Tinubu announced the end of petrol subsidy on May 29, 2023, during his inauguration and subsequently unified the exchange rates.