APC slams Atiku for calling Tinubu ‘Bola’
President Bola Tinubu
Abdullateef Fowewe
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has criticised former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar for addressing President Bola Tinubu by his first name, describing the action as a breach of the decorum expected of a former occupant of the nation’s second-highest office.
In a statement signed by the council’s spokesperson, Dele Alake, the APC said it had followed public reactions to Atiku’s remark, accusing the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate of disrespecting the office of the President and Commander-in-Chief.
“While a higher standard of decorum, decency and deference to constituted authorities is expected from a former Vice President of Nigeria and an aspirant to the highest office in the country, we are concerned that the ADC Presidential candidate has not lived up to those expectations by his unbecoming decision to address the President of Nigeria on a first-name basis as ‘Bola’,” Alake said.
The campaign council argued that Atiku’s conduct reflected political bitterness following his loss in the last presidential election.
“Since Alhaji Atiku lost the last Presidential election, he has allowed political animosity and uncontrollable ambition to rob him of the statesmanship that should guide his public conduct and utterances,” the statement added.
Alake further said the former vice-president had, by his action, failed to set a worthy example for younger politicians.
“Alhaji Atiku, for reasons best known to him alone, chose, rather than being a good example of decency in political behaviour, to set himself up as a model of politician the younger generation of political actors should never aspire to be like,” he said.
Despite the criticism, the APC urged its leaders, spokespersons, members and support groups to continue treating Atiku with the respect befitting his former office and status as a presidential candidate.
“Without any regard to his personal choice to disrespect the office he is aspiring to occupy, the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council has implored all party leaders, spokespersons, party members and support groups to accord all the respect, courtesies and regard due to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as former Vice President of Nigeria and a Presidential candidate,” Alake said.
He added that the ruling party would not respond in kind, saying its campaign would remain issue-based.
“As a party grounded in progressive ideals and African traditional values of respect, our campaign council will not follow Alhaji Atiku’s path,” he stated.
“Our campaign will focus on issues important to Nigerians. We will sell our party programmes, President Bola Tinubu’s achievements in office, and how the administration is moving Nigeria from reforms to prosperity as the President seeks a second-term mandate from Nigerians.”
