‘Bola is his name, President is his office’ — Paul Ibe defends Atiku

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has defended him over his decision to refer to President Bola Tinubu simply as “Bola.”

In a post on his verified X handle on Friday, Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, said there was no Nigerian law making it an offence for Atiku or any other person to address the President by his first name.

Reacting to criticism of Atiku’s use of “Bola” in his Independence Day address, Ibe said, “Bola is his name. President is his office.”

He argued that under Section 36(12) of the Constitution, nobody can be convicted of an offence unless the offence and its punishment are prescribed in written law.

Ibe challenged critics of Atiku to identify the law requiring Nigerians to address Tinubu as “President,” “His Excellency” or “Mr President.”

He also cited Section 39 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression, arguing that people could disagree with Atiku’s choice of words without turning it into an offence.

“People may debate Atiku’s style. They may say they would have preferred ‘President Tinubu.’ That is their opinion. But let us not invent an offence where none exists,” he said.

Ibe said the focus should instead remain on the issues Atiku raised in his Independence Day address.