Why Tinubu Supporters’ ‘MAD’ Slogan Could Backfire

I initially doubted a graphic describing Tinubu’s supporters as “MAD.” After checking it, I found that it was genuine and had been shared by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga. The slogan reinterprets MAD as “Motivated, Assured and Determined,” apparently in response to Rotimi Amaechi’s claim that only mad people would vote for Tinubu in 2027. I argue that this attempt to turn an insult into a positive label may backfire. Reclaiming a negative word can work when the people using it are unfairly targeted. But Tinubu is the incumbent, and supporters of his government are defending policies that critics say have deepened hardship. In that context, the slogan risks making the original insult more memorable rather than changing its meaning. Amaechi, I note, is also a questionable critic given his role in the Buhari administration and his earlier support for Buhari’s re-election. I am not defending him or endorsing another politician. My point is that political slogans cannot erase people’s experience of economic pain or replace good governance.

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