Keyamo tackles Atiku for calling Tinubu ‘Bola’, says it’s disrespectful

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has criticised former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, for repeatedly referring to President Bola Tinubu as “Bola” during a press conference on Friday.

Keyamo, in a post on his X handle on Friday, described Atiku’s reference to the President by his first name as “very disrespectful and discourteous”, saying the office of the President should be accorded dignity irrespective of political differences.

“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 from a position of personal grievance, saying, “The tone reeks of pain and bitterness in his heart

The minister further referred to Atiku’s recent claim about their ages, arguing that it was inconsistent for him to describe Tinubu as older than himself and simultaneously address 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 urged Tinubu to adopt his proposal for government intervention to reduce petrol prices, saying the President could rename the idea and take credit for it if it would reduce the burden on Nigerians.

Atiku made the remarks at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, where he also called for measures to reduce the cost of petrol and warned against relying on palliatives to address rising living costs.

“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.