Former presidential spokesman Akin Osuntokun has criticised African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar over his Independence Day address, particularly his repeated reference to President Bola Tinubu as “Bola.”
Osuntokun expressed his reservations in a statement issued on Thursday, arguing that although Atiku had the right to criticise Tinubu and his administration, the manner in which he addressed the President was inappropriate.
The former Director-General of Peter Obi’s 2023 presidential campaign said political criticism should not be confused with disrespect for the institution of the presidency.
“Abubakar is entitled to criticise the President, however sharply. What I found objectionable was his repeated decision to call him ‘Bola’,” Osuntokun said.
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He argued that using Tinubu’s first name did not make Atiku’s criticism stronger but instead amounted to what he described as an unnecessary display of disrespect.
Osuntokun noted that Tinubu was the elected President of Nigeria and currently occupied the office Atiku had previously sought through presidential elections.
He added that Nigerians who disagreed with Tinubu’s leadership had constitutional and democratic avenues through which they could seek a change of government, including impeachment where applicable or defeating the incumbent at the ballot box.
The former presidential spokesman stressed that his comments should not be interpreted as support for Tinubu’s policies or personality.
Rather, he said his concern was about maintaining decorum in political discourse and respecting the institution of the presidency.
Osuntokun argued that anyone seeking the Nigerian presidency should demonstrate respect for the office even when a political opponent occupies it.
He also used hypothetical examples involving former vice presidents addressing sitting presidents by their first names to illustrate his point.
According to him, Atiku’s choice of words raised questions about the judgment and temperament he would bring to the presidency if elected.
