Why Waziri Atiku Abubakar Should Apologise To President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Dear Waziri Atiku Abubakar,
I watched your press conference today and noticed that you repeatedly referred to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces as ‘Bola’ rather than President Bola Tinubu.
Sir, I appeal to you, as a most respected elder statesman, to find it within yourself to address the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces with the respect due to his office.
This will show good judgment on your part and demonstrate the temperament required of a good leader.
Repeatedly referring to the President as ‘Bola’ sets a poor precedent. It is wrong, sir, and reflects poorly on Nigeria and Nigerians in the international community. It portrays opposition politics in Nigeria as pedestrian.
Also, because you never referred to President Muhammadu Buhari, whom you contested against in 2019, as Muhammadu, your action of referring to the President as ‘Bola’ will divide Nigeria and cause Nigerians to believe that you respected General Muhammadu Buhari because he was a Northerner and was of the same ethnicity as you. I know that is not the case.
Even when you fell out with your boss, President Olusegun Obasanjo, you never referred to him as ‘Olusegun’. You always gave him the respect due to his office by calling him President Obasanjo, even when you criticised him.
Yet this was a President who called you names I cannot even print here, and in December 2006 declared your office as Vice President vacant, then withdrew your rights and privileges, and even ordered you out of a Federal Executive Council meeting.
President Tinubu has not done any of that. He was in your corner when you were being bullied and offered you a ticket on the Action Congress platform. Yet, you disrespect him and respect President Obasanjo.
By all means, sir, do criticise the President. That is what democracy is all about. But in doing so, you ought to still give regard to the office he holds. To disrespect that office is to disrespect Nigeria, the very same country you aspire to lead.
On Thursday, November 17, 2022, President Barack Obama, who is not an incumbent, gently warned Trevor Noah that it is rude for Mr Noah or anybody else to call him by his first name. He explained, “You should call me ‘Mr President. ‘” President.'” Those were his exact words.
If that is the decorous way to refer to a former President, how much more so to an incumbent leader.
Calling a President by their proper appellation, which is “Mr President” or “Madam President”, shows that you are a democrat who recognises that the Head of State of a country is ALWAYS worthy of respect because of the office they occupy and the people they lead.
You could have said everything that you said today, and even more hard-hitting jibes, while still referring to His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, by his correct appellations.
You may recall that in 2022, specifically on Thursday, November 3, 2022, during the campaign and before the election, you accused a notable politician of being “rude” and “disrespectful” towards you and asked for an apology.
That episode shows that you also want to be treated with respect. Therefore, shouldn’t you treat others as you would like to be treated?
I sincerely appeal to you, sir, to acknowledge the error of calling the President by his first name, apologise for being indecorous to him, and set a better standard of democratic behaviour for younger Nigerians to follow.
I thank you, sir, and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria and sustain our democracy.
