Former presidential spokesman and Director-General of Peter Obi’s 2023 presidential campaign, Akin Osuntokun, has criticised former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar over his repeated reference to President Bola Tinubu as “Bola” during his Independence Day address.
Osuntokun said Atiku had every right to criticise Tinubu and his administration, but argued that repeatedly referring to the President by his first name was disrespectful to the office he occupies.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Osuntokun said his longstanding relationship with Atiku had previously made him reluctant to openly criticise the former vice-president since the end of the Olusegun Obasanjo administration in 2007.
He maintained that criticism of the President should focus on his policies and administration rather than involve what he described as unnecessary disrespect for the institution of the presidency.
According to Osuntokun, Tinubu is the elected President of Nigeria and those who oppose his administration have constitutional and democratic avenues through which they can seek a change in leadership.
He pointed to impeachment and elections as legitimate mechanisms available to Nigerians and political actors seeking to remove a sitting president.
Osuntokun stressed that his position should not be interpreted as support for Tinubu’s policies or personality, but as a call for decorum and respect for the presidency in public discourse.
He argued that anyone seeking the Nigerian presidency should demonstrate respect for the office, including when the position is occupied by a political opponent.
Osuntokun also questioned what Atiku’s choice of language might suggest about the former vice-president’s approach to leadership, while noting that Atiku served as vice-president between 1999 and 2007 and is seeking the presidency ahead of the 2027 election.
