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 simply as “Bola” during a press conference on Friday.
Keyamo described the manner of addressing the President as disrespectful, arguing that political disagreements should not diminish the dignity attached to the office of the President.
In a post on X, the minister said Atiku should have been more mindful of the office Tinubu occupies.
“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 the former vice-president of allowing personal grievances to influence the tone of his remarks.
“The tone reeks of pain and bitterness in his heart,” the minister said.
“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, during the same press conference in Abuja, called on Tinubu to take measures to reduce petrol prices and ease the pressure of rising living costs.
He urged the President to adopt his proposed intervention even if it meant renaming the idea and taking credit for it.
“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,” Atiku said.
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