By Chesa Chesa
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for addressing President Bola Tinubu by his first name, describing the action as disrespectful to the office of the President.
The council said it would not follow Atiku’s approach, insisting that its campaign would focus on issues affecting Nigerians, the achievements of the Tinubu administration and its plans to move the country from reforms to prosperity.
Dele Alake, spokesperson for the APC Presidential Campaign Council, stated this in a press statement on Monday amid public reactions to Atiku’s reference to the President as “Bola”.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), was accused by the APC council of falling short of the decorum and respect expected of a former vice president and an aspirant to the nation’s highest office.
The council said Atiku’s conduct raised concerns about his regard for constituted authority, arguing that his political ambition and animosity had undermined the statesmanship expected of him.
“Since Alhaji Atiku lost the last Presidential election, he has allowed political animosity and uncontrollable ambition to rob him of the statesmanship that should guide his public conduct and utterances,” the statement said.
The APC campaign council further accused the former vice president of setting a poor example for younger politicians through what it described as unbecoming political behaviour.
Despite its criticism, the council urged APC leaders, spokespersons, members and support groups to accord Atiku the respect and courtesies due to him as a former vice president and presidential candidate.
“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,” Alake said.
He added that the APC, which he described as a party grounded in progressive ideals and African traditional values, would maintain its standards of political conduct rather than emulate Atiku’s approach.
The council said its campaign would concentrate on presenting the party’s programmes, highlighting Tinubu’s achievements in office and explaining how the administration intends to translate its ongoing reforms into prosperity.
