The Presidency has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for calling President Bola Tinubu by his first name, describing it as disrespectful.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, said Atiku’s manner of referring to the President as “Bola” was the height of insolence.
Dare spoke on Saturday in reaction to Atiku’s press conference in Abuja on Friday, where the former Vice President advised Tinubu to adopt his proposal on reducing petrol price.
Atiku had said Tinubu should not hesitate to implement government intervention to lower petrol price even if the idea came from him.
“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.
But reacting, Dare said Atiku had no right to lecture a sitting President while addressing him by his first name.
“Alhaji Atiku’s manner of addressing President Bola Tinubu as Bola is the height of insolence. It is a clear descent into the abyss of unbridled desperation and an unraveling mind,” he said.
He added that directing a sitting President on how to run government within a short time showed political arrogance.
Dare also faulted Atiku’s comments on the economy, saying he lacked moral standing to advise the administration on fiscal management.
He said President Tinubu was carrying out tough reforms needed to fix an economy weakened by years of subsidy payments and poor structure.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is doing the heavy, foundational lifting required to restructure an economy crippled by decades of structural inertia and subsidy hemorrhaging,” Dare said.
He described Atiku’s call for intervention in petrol pricing as an attempt to gain political advantage from current hardship.
The statement came a day after Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, also knocked Atiku for calling Tinubu “Bola”, saying the office of the President deserves respect regardless of political differences.
Atiku, who is now the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, is preparing for the 2027 presidential election, while Tinubu is expected to seek re-election under the All Progressives Congress.
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