Calling Tinubu ‘Bola’ Could Divide Nigeria — Omokri Warns Atiku

Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to Mexico, Reno Omokri, has urged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to apologize to President Bola Tinubu for repeatedly addressing him by his first name.

Omokri further warned that such practice could fuel perceptions of ethnic bias.

Omokri argued that Atiku did not address former President Muhammadu Buhari by his first name during the 2019 presidential election, despite contesting against him.

He said the difference could create the impression that Atiku showed Buhari greater respect because they shared a northern background and ethnicity, although he said he did not believe that was the case.

Omokri 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 former vice president to apologise for referring to Tinubu as “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 Tinubu with what he considered the respect due to the office of the president.

“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 argued that Atiku’s approach could set a poor precedent for political engagement and portray opposition politics negatively before the international community.

He maintained that the former vice president could criticise Tinubu 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 compared Atiku’s relationship with former President Olusegun Obasanjo to his exchanges with Tinubu.

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

Omokri further claimed that Tinubu had treated Atiku differently, alleging that the President supported the former vice president when he was being bullied and offered him a presidential ticket on the platform of the Action Congress.

He said the use of official titles was a way of respecting the institution of the presidency rather than endorsing the individual occupying the office.

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

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

Omokri 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.

He added that Atiku could express 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.

Omokri 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.

He said the incident demonstrated the importance Atiku himself attached to being treated respectfully.

Omokri 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.