Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo has criticised former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar over his repeated reference to President Bola Tinubu as “Bola” during a press conference on Friday.
In a post on his X handle, Keyamo described Atiku’s use of the President’s first name as “very disrespectful and discourteous”, arguing that the office of the President should be treated with dignity regardless of political disagreements.
“The continuous reference to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu @officialABAT by His Excellency, ex Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in his Press Conference earlier today as ‘Bola’ is very disrespectful and discourteous,” Keyamo said.
“He should know better that no matter your differences with Mr. President, for the sake of the country, that office should be accorded all the dignity it deserves.”
Keyamo also accused Atiku of speaking out of personal resentment, saying, “The tone reeks of pain and bitterness in his heart.”
The minister further cited Atiku’s recent claim concerning their ages, arguing that it was contradictory for him to describe Tinubu as older than himself while also addressing him by his first name.
“After all, he made the outlandish claim the other day that Mr. President is older than himself. It is therefore a contradiction that he would also refer to an ‘elder’ by his first name,” Keyamo said.
Atiku had earlier called on Tinubu to consider his proposal for government intervention aimed at reducing petrol prices, saying the President could rename the initiative and take credit for it if it would ease the burden on Nigerians.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, Atiku also advocated measures to bring down petrol prices and cautioned against relying on palliatives to tackle the rising cost of living.
“Bola Tinubu should not be ashamed to do what is necessary to lower the price of petrol simply because Atiku Abubakar proposed a government intervention.
“He should just take the idea, rename it if he wishes, and even take the credit. What matters to me is that Nigerians pay less,” he said.