Aviation Minister says former Vice-President’s reference to Tinubu by first name is “disrespectful and discourteous”

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has criticised former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, over his repeated reference to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu simply as “Bola” during a press conference in Abuja on Friday.

Keyamo, in a statement posted on his official X handle, described Atiku’s choice of words as “very disrespectful and discourteous,” arguing that the office of the President should be accorded dignity irrespective of political differences.

“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.

The minister added that political disagreements should not diminish the respect attached to the office of the President.

“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,” he said.

Keyamo also accused Atiku of speaking from a position of personal grievance, stating that the former Vice-President’s tone “reeks of pain and bitterness in his heart.”

Keyamo questions Atiku’s age argument

The minister further referenced Atiku’s recent claim concerning the ages of the former Vice-President and President Tinubu.

According to Keyamo, it was contradictory for Atiku to describe Tinubu as older than himself while also addressing the President by his first name.

“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 comes amid renewed political differences between supporters of the Tinubu administration and Atiku, who is seeking the presidency on the platform of the ADC.

Atiku calls for lower petrol prices

Earlier on Friday, Atiku had called on President Tinubu to consider government intervention to reduce the price of petrol and ease the economic burden on Nigerians.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the former Vice-President said the President should not hesitate to adopt his proposal simply because it originated from him.

“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,” Atiku said.

He added that the President could rename the proposal and take credit for it if doing so would reduce the cost of petrol for Nigerians.

“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,” he said.

Atiku also warned against relying primarily on palliatives to address the rising cost of living, urging the government to pursue measures capable of providing more sustainable relief to Nigerians.

The comments by both politicians come as the 2027 political landscape continues to take shape, with Atiku among the opposition figures positioning for the next presidential contest.