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Paul Ibe, Media Adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has replied High Commissioner-designate to South Africa, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, over his criticism of Atiku for referring to President Bola Tinubu as “Bola” in his October 1 address.
Fani-Kayode had in a Facebook post on Sunday titled “And Now You Call Him Bola!” accused Atiku of being disrespectful for repeatedly calling President Tinubu by his first name, describing it as “bad manners” and “an insult to Nigeria.”
He further berated Atiku for allegedly betraying former President Olusegun Obasanjo, disrespecting ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, and deleting his condolence post after Deborah Samuel’s death in 2022, while quoting former Peter Obi campaign DG, Akin Osuntokun, who had also criticised Atiku for calling the President “Bola.”
Responding same day, Ibe said the focus on form of address misses the substance of Atiku’s message.
“His name is Bola. And that is not Nigeria’s problem. Nigeria is a republic, not a monarchy. The President is an elected public servant, not an emperor before whom opponents must genuflect,” Ibe stated.
Ibe said Atiku committed no crime or constitutional violation by calling Tinubu “Bola,” adding that “President is an office, not a compulsory prefix shielding its occupant from criticism.”
The aide faulted Fani-Kayode’s lecture on decency and decorum, accusing him of using terms such as “pit bull terriers,” “hungry wolves” and “fallen angels” to refer to people in the same post.
He also referenced Fani-Kayode’s past altercation with a Daily Trust journalist, whom the ex-Aviation Minister called ‘stupid’, and writings about Igbo people that have attracted accusations of ethnic stereotyping.
Reacting to Fani-Kayode’s claim that Atiku betrayed ex-President Obasanjo, Ibe said, “Atiku was Vice President, not Obasanjo’s domestic servant. Indeed, Atiku’s court victories from that era helped deepen Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.”
On the claim that Obasanjo knelt before Atiku to seek a second term, Ibe said Atiku has denied it and that it remains disputed history.
He also defended Atiku’s comment describing former President Goodluck Jonathan as inexperienced, saying it was a political assessment, and said political rivals becoming allies is coalition building.
On the 2022 killing of Deborah Samuel in Sokoto, Ibe said Atiku condemned the killing and that a post initially published was deployed without approval.
He said Atiku’s October 1 speech raised questions about food prices, petrol affordability, electricity, insecurity and quality of life under the Tinubu administration, which he said should be the focus of debate ahead of 2027.
