Omokri To Atiku: Calling Tinubu ‘Bola’ Could Divide Nigeria

Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to Mexico, Reno Omokri, has urged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to apologise to President Bola Tinubu for repeatedly addressing him by his first name ‘Bola’ saying that such act of disrespect could cause ethical division in the coun.

Omokri argued that Atiku never referred to former late President Muhammadu Buhari by his first name, despite contesting against him in the 2019 presidential election, and said the difference could create the impression that the former vice president respected Buhari because they shared the same northern background and ethnicity.

He made the argument in an open letter titled ‘Why Waziri Atiku Abubakar Should Apologise To President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,’ in which he appealed to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate to apologise to Tinubu for repeatedly calling him “Bola” during a recent press conference.

“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,” Omokri wrote.

He urged Atiku, whom he described as a respected elder statesman, to address the President with the respect he said was due to the office.

“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,” he said.

Omokri said the manner in which Atiku addressed Tinubu could set a poor precedent for political engagement in Nigeria and portray opposition politics negatively before the international community.

He maintained that Atiku could criticise the President and his policies without disregarding the office he occupies.

“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,” he wrote.

The ambassador-designate also drew a comparison between Atiku’s relationship with former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his current exchanges with Tinubu.

He recalled that despite their political disagreements, Atiku continued to address Obasanjo by his presidential title, even after the former president declared his office as vice president vacant in December 2006, withdrew his rights and privileges, and ordered him out of a Federal Executive Council meeting.

Omokri further claimed that Tinubu had not treated Atiku in the same manner, recalling that the President had supported the former vice president when he was being bullied and offered him a presidential ticket on the platform of the Action Congress.

He argued that the use of official titles was a mark of respect for the institution of the presidency rather than an endorsement of the individual occupying the office.

To support his position, Omokri cited an alleged exchange between former United States President Barack Obama and television host Trevor Noah on November 17, 2022, claiming that Obama had cautioned Noah against addressing him by his first name.

According to Omokri, Obama said: “You should call me ‘Mr President. ‘ President.”

He said addressing a sitting president by the appropriate title demonstrated recognition of the office and the people represented by its occupant.

“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,” he wrote.

Omokri added that Atiku could have expressed his disagreements with Tinubu while addressing him by his official titles, including President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He also cited an incident in November 2022 in which Atiku reportedly accused another politician of being rude and disrespectful towards him and demanded an apology.

Omokri said the incident illustrated the importance Atiku himself attached to being treated respectfully.

He urged the former vice president to acknowledge what he described as an error, apologise to Tinubu and encourage younger Nigerians to maintain respect for public institutions despite political disagreements.

“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,” he wrote.