Osuntokun says Atiku's 'Bola' address to Tinubu disrespects presidency
Akin Osuntokun, former presidential spokesman and director-general of Peter Obi's 2023 campaign, criticized former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for repeatedly calling President Bola Tinubu "Bola" during his October 1 national address. In a Thursday statement, Osuntokun acknowledged Atiku's right to criticize Tinubu but condemned the personal address as disrespectful to the presidency and an affront to Nigeria, stating: "This is not acceptable. It is primarily an insult to Nigeria, on whose account he occupies that office.
The critique gains significance as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections, with Atiku identified by NAN as a prominent opposition figure seeking to challenge Tinubu's administration. Osuntokun referenced his long-standing cordial relationship with Atiku since the Obasanjo administration ended in 2007, which made him reluctant to criticize harshly, yet he insisted that respect for the presidential office must be maintained regardless of political opposition. He posed a hypothetical: imagining a former VP calling a sitting president "Segun" or "Mohammadu" would clearly demonstrate rudeness.
Osuntokun emphasized that those dissatisfied with Tinubu have legitimate constitutional avenues—impeachment or electoral defeat—and that until such removal occurs, the president is entitled to office privileges. His position, he clarified, is not a call for deference to Tinubu's policies but for decorum in public discourse and respect for the institution itself, suggesting that anyone seeking national mandate should demonstrate such respect even toward opponents occupying the presidency. Where should the line be drawn between robust policy debate and personal disrespect toward national institutions?