Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has criticised former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, for repeatedly referring to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu simply as “Bola” during a press conference in Abuja on Friday.
Keyamo described the reference as “very disrespectful and discourteous,” arguing that political differences 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 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 allowing personal grievances to influence the tone of his remarks, saying, “The tone reeks of pain and bitterness in his heart.”
The minister further referenced Atiku’s recent comments about their ages, arguing that it was contradictory for the former vice-president to describe Tinubu as an elder 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, during the same press conference, called on Tinubu to take urgent measures to reduce petrol prices and ease the rising cost of living.
He urged the President to adopt his proposed intervention even if it meant renaming the idea and taking credit for it, saying the priority should be ensuring that Nigerians pay less for petrol.
“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,” Atiku said.
“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.”
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