TINUBU’s First Name Controversy: Nigeria is Not a Monarchy – PAUL IBE Tells FFK
The Atiku Abubakar Media Office has defended the choice of its principal and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, ATIKU ABUBAKAR, to address President BOLA AHMED TINUBU by his first name.
PAUL IBE, who is one of ATIKU ABUBAKAR’s media aides, says those criticising the former Vice President for calling the President by his first name “BOLA” are missing the point, as that is not Nigeria’s problem.
IBE shared his views in a statement in reaction to series of criticism of ATIKU’s media address on Independence Day last Thursday, in which he pointed out the flaws of President TINUBU’s own Independence Day broadcast, repeatedly calling him simply as TINUBU.
With reference to the latest criticism by Nigeria’s Ambassador designate to South Africa, FEMI FANI-KAYODE, PAUL IBE noted that “in a country battling hardship, insecurity and prohibitive food, transport and energy costs, what appears to be of greater concern to him was that “ATIKU called BOLA, BOLA.”
He noted that Nigeria is a republic, not a monarchy, and that “the President is an elected public servant, not an emperor before whom opponents must genuflect.”
Emphasising that “President” is an office, not a compulsory prefix shielding its occupant from criticism, PAUL IBE asserted that ATIKU committed no crime or constitutional violation by calling BOLA TINUBU “BOLA”.
IBE observed that the bigger problem with FANI-KAYODE’s criticism, which he described as a sermon is the moral contradiction of the preacher.
He said while the APC chieftain tried to lecture Atiku about “decency”, “decorum” and “restraint”, his essay calls people “pit bull terriers”, “hungry wolves”, “fallen angels” and sufferers of “pathological obsession”.
The ATIKU spokesman reminded FEMI FANI-KAYODE how he publicly berated a Daily Trust journalist for asking a legitimate question, called him “stupid”, threatened him and reportedly declared, “I have marked you.”
He also reminded FEMI FANI-KAYODE that his writings about the Igbo had repeatedly attracted accusations of ethnic stereotyping and inflammatory rhetoric.
“And since you have turned political disagreement into a sermon on personal morality, your own public baggage becomes relevant. Your estranged wife publicly accused you of domestic abuse. Someone carrying such contested baggage should understand the wisdom of restraint before mounting the pulpit to judge another man's character” he asserted.
PAUL IBE also addressed FANI-KAYODE’s comments about ATIKU’s political disagreement with former President OLUSEGUN OBASANJO, reminding him that the former Vice President of Nigeria was not OBASANJO’s domestic servant.
IBE noted that “as for Rotimi Amaechi, political rivals can later become allies. That is coalition building. You should understand this better than most: you are today in the APC supporting a man you once vowed never to support. You are an Ambassador-designate of all that is obnoxious about the Tinubu administration.”