‘BOLA’ CONTROVERSY: TINUBU CAMPAIGN ORDERS MEMBERS TO RESPECT ATIKU, TAKE MORAL HIGH GROUND

…Alake: APC spokespersons, support groups must accord former VP full courtesies despite row over his first-name reference to President

By Shaagee Orkula
The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council has directed its leaders, spokespersons, members and support groups to accord former Vice President Atiku Abubakar the respect and courtesies due to his former office and status as a presidential candidate, despite the controversy over his decision to address President Bola Tinubu simply as “Bola.”

In a statement on Monday, APC Presidential Campaign Council spokesperson Dele Alake said the campaign would not respond in kind to what it considers Atiku’s breach of political and presidential protocol.

Alake said the directive was intended to ensure that APC campaign officials maintain what the council described as a higher standard of political conduct as the 2027 presidential campaign intensifies.

The controversy followed Atiku’s reference to the President by his first name, “Bola,” rather than by his title during recent political exchanges, drawing criticism from Tinubu’s supporters.

The APC campaign argued that greater decorum was expected from Atiku, given his status as a former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress.

“We have followed the furore and public reactions to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s self-imposed indiscretion and disrespect for the office of the President of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief,” Alake said.

He accused the former Vice President of allowing political rivalry to overshadow the statesmanship expected of someone who had occupied Nigeria’s second-highest political office.

However, Alake said the APC campaign had decided that its officials should not retaliate by diminishing Atiku’s status or addressing him disrespectfully.

“Without any regard to his personal choice to disrespect the office he is aspiring to occupy, the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council has implored all party leaders, spokespersons, party members, and support groups to accord all the respect, courtesies, and regard due to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as former Vice President of Nigeria and a presidential candidate,” he said.

According to him, the council’s position reflects what it described as the APC’s progressive ideals and African traditional values of respect.

“As a party grounded in progressive ideals and African traditional values of respect, our campaign council will not follow Alhaji Atiku’s path,” Alake added.

He said the Tinubu campaign would instead concentrate on issues it considers important to Nigerians, including the administration’s record, the APC’s programmes, and its case for a second-term mandate.

“Our campaign will focus on issues important to Nigerians. We will sell our party programmes, President Bola Tinubu’s achievements in office, and how the administration is moving Nigeria from reforms to prosperity as the President seeks a second-term mandate from Nigerians,” Alake said.