Atiku Abubakar’s Special Assistant on Digital Media Strategy, Demola Olarenwaju, has publicly criticized President Bola Tinubu, alleging that Tinubu and his close allies from Lagos, who are now in power at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, are enjoying a life of luxury at the expense of ordinary Nigerians.

According to Olarenwaju, Tinubu’s administration is operating under the misguided belief that Nigerians will continually tolerate a government that prioritizes its comfort while the average citizen faces daily hardships.

He shared his frustrations on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, emphasizing that Tinubu and his circle seem oblivious to the struggles and frustrations that people are enduring across the nation.

In his post, Olarenwaju argued that governing Nigeria as if it were Lagos is a serious misjudgment.

“If you assess T-pain’s impact by observing Lagosians, you might conclude that ‘it isn’t that deep,’ but that’s a flawed perception,” he wrote, explaining that Lagos, with its bustling urban energy and diverse population, does not represent the reality of the rest of Nigeria.

“Lagos is a microcosm of Nigeria, yet it does not mirror the true Nigerian experience,” he continued.

Olarenwaju pointed out that Lagos residents, known for their resilience and strong drive to succeed, have often come from various parts of Nigeria, Africa, and even beyond.

They arrived in Lagos with an entrepreneurial spirit, willing to face the city’s challenges and “double their hustle” rather than openly express their frustrations.

This culture of resilience, he suggested, might lead the president and his allies to underestimate the dissatisfaction that is growing elsewhere in the country.

“The Tinubu government appears dangerously out of touch with the real struggles of Nigerians,” he wrote, stressing that diversity in governance is critical for understanding the wider context of Nigerian lives.

“Tinubu thinks Nigerians will forever put up with his extravagant lifestyle and that of his close group, while they bear the brunt of a tough economy.”

To illustrate the discontent, Olarenwaju referenced a recent incident involving a danfo (public transport) driver in Lagos, who reportedly attempted to set himself and a LASTMA (Lagos State Traffic Management Authority) official on fire after an altercation.

“This speaks volumes about the level of frustration many people feel,” he remarked, adding that when citizens reach their breaking point, they will not need activist Omoyele Sowore to incite them to action—they will mobilize independently.