Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has criticised former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar over his repeated reference to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as “Bola” during a press conference in Abuja.
Keyamo described the manner in which Atiku addressed the President as disrespectful and discourteous.
He argued that political differences should not affect the dignity attached to the office of the President.
The minister made his position known in a post on X after Atiku addressed journalists on Friday on the rising cost of petrol, government intervention and the economic difficulties facing Nigerians.
“The continuous reference to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu @officialABAT by His Excellency, ex-Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, in his press conference earlier today as ‘Bola’ is very disrespectful and discourteous,” Keyamo said.
“He should know better that no matter your differences with Mr President, for the sake of the country, that office should be accorded all the dignity it deserves.”
Keyamo further questioned the way Atiku chose to address Tinubu, especially against the background of the former vice-president’s recent comments about the President’s age.
The minister said Atiku’s manner of speaking suggested that the former vice-president’s political disagreement with Tinubu had become personal.
“The tone reeks of pain and bitterness in his heart,” Keyamo said.
“After all, he made the outlandish claim the other day that Mr President is older than himself. It is therefore a contradiction that he would also refer to an ‘elder’ by his first name,” Keyamo said.
The exchange came after Atiku used the name “Bola” several times while addressing the President over the rising price of petrol and the broader cost of living crisis.
Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 election, had asked Tinubu to take immediate steps to bring down the cost of petrol.
He said the Federal Government should not reject a policy proposal simply because it came from a political opponent.
Atiku also told the President that he could adopt the proposal, give it another name and take credit for it if the measure would ultimately reduce the financial burden on Nigerians.
“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.
Atiku said the removal of the petrol subsidy in May 2023 had continued to affect transportation, food prices, production and household spending.
He argued that an increase in energy costs eventually affects several other areas of the economy.
“When government makes energy expensive, it makes life expensive,” Atiku said.
He maintained that the government should look beyond palliatives and focus on measures that would reduce the underlying causes of the rising cost of living.
Atiku also raised concerns about the planned phase-out of electricity subsidies from 2027.
He warned that households, manufacturers and small businesses could face additional pressure if electricity costs rise without measures to cushion the effect.
“The lesson of petrol must not be repeated with electricity,” he said. “Do not remove first and think later. Do not impose the pain first and search for palliatives afterwards.”
The ADC candidate also proposed what he described as a production subsidy for petroleum products refined in Nigeria.
Under the proposal, government support would be directed towards locally refined petroleum products sold to Nigerians. Imported petroleum products would not qualify for the proposed intervention.
Atiku said the programme, if adopted, should have a fixed spending limit, approval from the National Assembly and independent auditing.
He used the example of support for local rice production to explain his position, arguing that reducing production costs could make locally produced goods cheaper while also supporting businesses, farmers and employment.
The former vice-president said the immediate concern should be the purchasing power of Nigerians rather than the political ownership of a particular policy proposal.
Earlier in September, Atiku backed calls by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) for government intervention with domestic refiners to help reduce petrol prices.
The former vice-president argued that the government should be prepared to adopt any workable proposal capable of reducing the pressure on citizens, regardless of who originally presented the idea.
“A sensible idea does not become a bad idea because it came from your opponent,” Atiku said. “If responsible intervention can lower prices, intervene. If changing course can help Nigerian families, change course.”
He also said he was prepared to contest Tinubu politically but would not allow the coming political contest to override concerns about the welfare of Nigerians.
