‘It’s disrespectful’: Keyamo knocks Atiku over ‘Bola’ reference to Tinubu

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Festus Keyamo

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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.

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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.

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In a post on X, the minister said Atiku should have been more mindful of the office Tinubu occupies.

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“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.

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“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.”

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Keyamo also accused the former vice-president of allowing personal grievances to influence the tone of his remarks.

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“The tone reeks of pain and bitterness in his heart,” the minister said.

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“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.

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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.

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He urged the President to adopt his proposed intervention even if it meant renaming the idea and taking credit for it.

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“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.

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“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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