Apologise To Tinubu For Calling Him ‘Bola’ – Reno Omokri Tells Atiku

A former presidential medal aide, Reno Omokri, has urged the presidential candidate of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, to apologise to President Bola Tinubu for repeatedly addressing him by his first name during a recent press conference.

Omokri said Atiku’s choice of words was disrespectful to the office of the President and could set a poor example for younger Nigerians.

In an open letter published on his social media accounts on Friday, the former presidential aide and ambassador-designate appealed to Atiku to demonstrate respect for the presidency despite their political differences.

He argued that the former Vice-President could criticise Tinubu’s policies and administration without disregarding the dignity attached to his office.

“By all means, sir, do criticise the President. That is what democracy is all about. But in doing so, you ought to still give regard to the office he holds,” Omokri wrote.

He added that disrespecting the presidency amounted to disrespecting Nigeria, a country Atiku hopes to lead.

Omokri also questioned why Atiku referred to Tinubu as Bola while previously maintaining formal titles when addressing former President Muhammadu Buhari and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, including during periods of political disagreement.

He said Atiku had never addressed Buhari simply by his first name during their contest for the presidency in 2019.

According to Omokri, the difference in how Atiku addressed the two leaders could create the impression that he accorded Buhari greater respect because they shared a northern background and ethnicity.

However, he said he did not believe that was Atiku’s intention.

Omokri also recalled Atiku’s strained relationship with Obasanjo when he served as Vice-President, noting that the former presidential candidate continued to address his former boss by his official title despite their disagreements.

He contrasted that experience with Tinubu’s relationship with Atiku, claiming that the incumbent President had supported the former Vice-President politically when he faced difficulties.

Omokri further cited an encounter involving former United States President, Barack Obama, and television host, Trevor Noah, in November 2022.

He said Obama had explained that people should address him as Mr President rather than by his first name, arguing that the principle of respecting presidential office should apply even more strongly to a sitting leader.

The former presidential aide also recalled an incident in November 2022 when Atiku accused a prominent politician of being rude and disrespectful towards him and demanded an apology.

Omokri said the episode demonstrated that Atiku valued respectful treatment and should extend the same courtesy to others.

He urged the former Vice-President to acknowledge his alleged breach of decorum and apologise to Tinubu, describing such a move as an opportunity to establish a better standard of democratic conduct.

The controversy over Atiku’s manner of addressing Tinubu has drawn criticism from several figures in the President’s camp.

In September, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, described Atiku’s repeated use of the name Bola as “the height of insolence”.

Dare made the remark while reacting to Atiku’s proposal that the Federal Government intervene to reduce petrol prices. He accused Atiku of displaying political arrogance and questioned his standing to lecture the administration on fiscal management.

He defended Tinubu’s economic policies, saying the President was implementing foundational reforms to restructure the economy.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, also criticised Atiku for addressing Tinubu by his first name, describing the practice as disrespectful and discourteous to the office of the President.

However, Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, defended his principal’s decision to use the name Bola, arguing that the practice did not violate any law.

In a post on his verified X account, Ibe maintained that Nigerians were not legally required to address Tinubu as President, His Excellency or Mr President.

“Bola is his name. President is his office,” Ibe wrote.

He cited Sections 36(12) and 39 of the 1999 Constitution, arguing that the absence of a specific law criminalising the use of the President’s first name meant Atiku had not committed an offence.

Ibe said Nigerians could disagree with Atiku’s choice of words but should not portray it as a criminal act.

“People may debate Atiku’s style. They may say they would have preferred ‘President Tinubu.’ That is their opinion. But let us not invent an offence where none exists,” he said.