- Phrank Shaibu claims that President Tinubu’s supporters have stopped wearing the “Emilokan cap,” as it now symbolizes embarrassment and disappointment
- The cap, once a symbol of hope, is now associated with oppression, reflecting the unfulfilled promises of the Tinubu administration
Phrank Shaibu, an aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has claimed that many supporters of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu have stopped wearing his signature cap, commonly known as the “Emilokan cap,” due to the prevailing economic hardship in Nigeria.
In an opinion piece titled De-cap-itated published on Sunday, Shaibu explained that Tinubu’s cap, once a proud symbol of political allegiance, has now become a source of embarrassment for many Nigerians. He argued that the cap, featuring a broken shackle symbol, which once represented freedom and hope, is now associated with oppression and disappointment.
Shaibu wrote, “During the 2023 presidential campaign and the early days of the Tinubu administration, his supporters proudly wore the Emilokan caps in solidarity with him. But today, that is no longer the case. The cap symbolises oppression and has become a source of embarrassment to Tinubu’s supporters.”
He further stated that the Emilokan cap has lost its appeal as people have realized it does not represent shared prosperity but rather a consolidation of state power for personal gain. He compared the decline of the cap’s popularity to historical symbols like the swastika, which became undesirable after the fall of Nazi Germany.
According to Shaibu, vendors who once eagerly sold the Emilokan caps now find it difficult to sell them, as the symbol has lost its meaning and appeal. What was once seen as a beacon of hope has now become a reminder of unfulfilled promises, disappointing supporters and sellers.
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