Atiku–Tinubu ‘Bola’ Controversy: Sugar Accuses Keyamo of Escalating Needless Political Row

A Political analyst, Alhaji Mohammad Abdullahi Sugar, has criticised the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, over his attack on former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, for referring to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as “Bola.”

Speaking in an interview, Sugar described Keyamo’s intervention as unnecessary, arguing that the minister should not interpret the longstanding personal relationship between Tinubu and Atiku through the lens of political rivalry.

Keyamo had criticised Atiku after the former vice-president repeatedly referred to Tinubu as “Bola” during a press conference in Abuja, describing the choice of address as “very disrespectful and discourteous.”

The minister argued that irrespective of political disagreements, the office of the President should be accorded dignity. He also accused Atiku of speaking with a tone that reflected “pain and bitterness.”

But Sugar rejected Keyamo’s position, questioning why the minister should take offence over an informal mode of address between two politicians who have known each other for decades.

“Before Tinubu became President, Waziri Atiku Abubakar had already served as Vice-President of Nigeria. So, for a minister to turn around and question the way Atiku addresses someone he has known for many years is unnecessary,” Sugar said.

He argued that political appointees should be cautious about inserting themselves into the personal relationship between senior political figures whose interactions, he said, may be different from their public political disagreements.

Sugar recalled what he described as a personal encounter involving Tinubu and Atiku at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, saying the two politicians addressed each other by their first names.

“I personally witnessed an encounter between the President and Waziri at the airport in Abuja. The President called Waziri ‘Atiku’, while Waziri called the President ‘Bola’. They exchanged prayers and good wishes,” he said.

According to him, Tinubu later proceeded into Abuja while Atiku boarded a flight to continue his journey.

Sugar said the encounter demonstrated that the use of first names between the two politicians could reflect their longstanding personal familiarity rather than disrespect for public office.

“If President Tinubu could call him Atiku, why should anybody suddenly conclude that Atiku calling him Bola amounts to disrespect?” he asked.

“Why did the President not address Waziri as ‘former Vice-President’ during that encounter? Does that mean the office of Vice-President is not an honourable position? Of course not. These are two men who have known each other for many years.”

Sugar maintained that respect for the presidency should not be used as a basis for political appointees to police personal interactions between political leaders.

He also urged ministers and other presidential appointees to devote greater attention to governance and the implementation of the administration’s commitments to Nigerians rather than escalating political exchanges.

“Those entrusted with positions of responsibility should concentrate on telling those in power the truth and helping government deliver on its promises to Nigerians,” he said.

Sugar further argued that Atiku’s status as a former vice-president also deserved recognition in public political discourse, while urging politicians and government officials to maintain civility despite the intensifying contest ahead of the 2027 general election.

The controversy followed Atiku’s press conference in Abuja, where he urged the Tinubu administration to intervene to reduce petrol prices and ease the cost-of-living pressure on Nigerians.

Atiku said Tinubu could adopt, rename and even take credit for his proposal if doing so would make petrol cheaper for citizens.

Keyamo, reacting afterwards, said Atiku should have shown greater deference to the office of the President rather than repeatedly addressing Tinubu by his first name. He also pointed to Atiku’s earlier comments about Tinubu’s age, arguing that it was contradictory to describe the President as older and still address him simply as “Bola.”

The exchange adds another dimension to the political rivalry surrounding the 2027 presidential contest, with Atiku and the Tinubu administration increasingly trading arguments over the economy, governance and the cost of living.