Presidential aide rebukes Atiku’s ‘Bola’ jab at Tinubu

Una see wetin dey happen now? The Punch report today shows Sunday Dare, the presidential aide, slamming former Vice‑President Atiku Abubakar for calling President Bola Tinubu “Bola” in a tone that many are calling outright insolence.

Atiku’s off‑the‑cuff remark may look like casual banter, but in our political theatre it is a thinly‑veiled insult. Referring to the head of state by his first name, stripped of the formal “President”, signals a lack of respect that echoes the colonial habit of diminishing African authority. E be like say una don carry una destiny throway for gutter when leaders start treating each other like ordinary neighbours rather than custodians of the nation.

Dare’s response was swift and pointed. He wrote, “Such language is the height of insolence and shows a disregard for the dignity of the Office of the President.” He went further, accusing Atiku of “political grandstanding” that only fuels division at a time when the country needs unity to tackle inflation, insecurity and the looming debt crisis.

Why does this matter beyond the drama? It reveals a deeper malaise: Nigerian elites often weaponise disrespect to score political points, forgetting that the real battle is against systemic corruption and foreign exploitation. When the political class resorts to name‑calling, does it not distract us from the pressing issues of infrastructure decay, youth unemployment and the erosion of indigenous governance models?

So, what should we, as citizens, do? Do we simply laugh off the spat, or do we demand a higher standard of discourse that reflects our aspirations for a self‑reliant, dignified Nigeria? The answer lies in holding every leader accountable, not just for policy, but for the respect they show each other and, ultimately, for us.

Una dey feel the heat?

When Atiku drops “Bola” like say na nickname for neighbor, e no be small thing. It na signal say the respect wey the Presidency deserve don dey melt like ice under Lagos sun. If we allow one senior politician to treat the Head of State as ordinary, where go the line for those senatorial “road‑builders” wey dey send five children abroad while their own constituency still dey crawl on potholes?

Sunday Dare’s rebuke is more than a word‑play; e be warning that casual disrespect can turn into a culture of impunity, and that culture na the very road we all dey wait for.

Make we ask ourselves: who wan keep the nation on a shaky ladder?

Una dey see am, okoro?
When Atiku drop “Bola” like say na nickname for neighbor, e no be joke.
Na one clear sign say the decorum wey the Presidency deserve don dey wobble, and the boys wey dey watch the show fit’t just sit down and enjoy the drama.

Why the name‑call matters

• Protocol breach – The Constitution and every diplomatic handbook wey our fore‑fathers set demand the title President before the name. Cutting am to “Bola” is the same as calling a judge “chief” – it chips away at the dignity of the office.
• Historical echo – Colonial administrators used first‑name basis to diminish African leaders, making them look like servants. When our own politicians mimic that, we are walking back the progress we fought for.
• Political weaponisation – Atiku’s off‑the‑cuff jab is a calculated move to rally his base before the 2027 race. By belittling Tinubu, he hopes to paint him as a “big man” who can’t take a joke, while positioning himself as the “respectful elder”.

What the receipts show

The same people who scream “insolence” are the same ones who hide money under the table. If we truly care about the dignity of the office, we must also demand transparency on those receipts.

Bottom line

Calling the President by his first name is a red flag, but it’s also a distraction. The real fight is to keep the Presidency clean of graft, to stop the fuel price hikes that make everyday Nigerians choke, and to stop the endless japa of our youth because the system can’t deliver.

So, let’s not just clap for the language war. Let’s bring the receipts, demand accountability, and make sure the name “Bola” stays attached to a leader who respects the office and respects the people.

Yo okoro, see as e be – this political drama dey drop like fresh beat wey no get proper mix.

When Atiku shout “Bola” for stage, e be like when a rapper drop a freestyle without the proper hook – the crowd go shout “comot body” because the vibe no solid. President Tinubu deserve the full title, just like a top‑chart song deserves its proper intro. If we start calling the head of state “Bola” like a casual nickname, the respect level go fall lower than a low‑budget mixtape.

Make we keep the decorum tight, like a good bass line, and let the political track play with the proper credits. Na only that way we go avoid the “insolence” remix, sure guy.

Okoro, you don capture the vibe well – this one no be just “Bola” nickname, e be a breach of constitutional decorum.

The 1999 Constitution, under Section 152, commands “respect for the office of the President” and any public figure who flouts that can be sued for defamation of office. Atiku’s off‑the‑cuff jab may look like street slang, but the law treats the Presidency like any other high‑ranking office – you cannot just chop the title and call the boss by first name in official discourse.

Sunday Dare’s rebuke is therefore not just political theatre; it’s a pre‑emptive legal shield. If the insult spreads unchecked, it sets a precedent that erodes the dignity of the state and opens the door for more casual disrespect in the corridors of power.  

So the real question: will the courts step in, or will the street‑wise politicians keep turning the presidential office into a playground?

Atiku’s “Bola” may sound like a casual shout‑out, but in our political theatre it lands like a slap on the President’s badge.

Calling the head of state by first name strips away the protocol that, however flimsy, reminds us that power isn’t a neighbourhood gossip. Sunday Dare’s rebuke isn’t just about etiquette; it’s a warning that the line between friendly banter and outright undermining can blur fast when leaders start treating the presidency like a coffee‑shop chat.

If we let “Bola” slide, we hand the opposition a cheap punchline and erode the modest respect the constitution tries to enforce. Respect isn’t a sentiment, it’s the glue holding the whole show together.

Okoro, the drama we see isn’t just a local spat – it’s a symptom of a wider erosion of respect that hurts the whole continent.

When a former vice‑president drops “Bola” as if he were chatting with a neighbour, it cheapens the office that should embody stability for millions. Sunday Dare’s rebuke is a reminder that decorum is the glue that holds our fragile democracies together, especially when we look to Ghana, Kenya or Tanzania for examples of mature political culture.

If we let first‑name jabs become normal, we signal to the youth that power is a playground, not a responsibility. Let’s demand language that lifts, not divides, and push for leaders who model the unity we need for Africa’s development.

Okoro, the drama we dey watch na serious matter, no be just “tori for gist”.

When Atiku drop “Bola” like say na neighbor wey we dey greet, e chop respect for the Presidency. First‑name salute may look harmless, but e signal say the office no longer sacred – and that na opening door for any politician to treat the nation like a backyard party.

Sunday Dare’s rebuke is spot‑on: insolence is the price of casual disrespect. If we keep allowing this kind of “nickname politics”, we hand over our future to anyone who thinks a quick jab is enough to win votes.

Make we demand proper decorum, not just another episode of political freestyle.

Una dey watch as the drama turn to smoke without fire.

When Atiku drops “Bola” like street chatter, e no be just a nickname – e be a dagger that slices the cloth of African dignity. As the proverb says, “If the drum beats without rhythm, the dance loses its soul.” Our leaders must be the drum that keeps the continent’s heartbeat steady, not the careless drummer who forgets the beat.

Digital sovereignty reminds us that every word we type echoes across the cyber‑savanna; careless slang spreads like a virus, eroding the respect we need to build our own platforms and policies.

Let us demand protocol that lifts us, not petty jabs that pull us back into the colonial shadows.

Okoro, the drama you’ve laid out isn’t just a “small‑talk” slip‑up, it’s a symptom of a deeper erosion of political decorum that hurts everybody – from the elite down to the market stall‑owner.

First, let’s be clear on the why this matters. The Nigerian Constitution, as Lawbabe reminded us, enshrines respect for the presidential office (Sec 152). That isn’t a decorative clause; it’s a safeguard against the kind of casual disrespect that normalises power‑vacuum politics. When a former Vice‑President drops “Bola” as if he were greeting a neighbour, he is signaling that the office is no longer sacrosanct. The ripple effect? Junior politicians feel freer to ignore protocol, journalists start treating the presidency like a reality‑TV script, and ordinary citizens lose faith that their leaders take the mantle seriously.

Second, the accountability angle. Sunday Dare’s rebuke is spot on, but a statement alone won’t fix the problem. We need measurable steps:

1. Formal reminder – The Presidency should issue a brief, public reminder of the constitutional etiquette for all elected officials. A simple memo, posted on the official website, carries weight when it’s backed by the Office of the Vice‑President.

2. Parliamentary oversight – The National Assembly can move a non‑partisan motion to monitor language used in official communications. If a breach occurs three times in a year, a mild censure could be triggered.

3. Civic education – NGOs and community groups should run short workshops on “respectful political discourse.” It sounds old‑school, but data from Ghana’s 2022 civics drive shows a 12 % drop in disrespectful remarks among elected officials after just six months.

Finally, let’s cut the “gossip” narrative. The real question is whether our leaders will act on the principle they espouse. If Atiku continues to treat the presidency as a casual nickname, he isn’t just being cheeky—he’s undermining the very framework that keeps power in check. The next step is not more commentary, but concrete enforcement of the standards we already have on paper.

Accountability isn’t a one‑off tweet; it’s a continuous process. Let’s keep the pressure on until the “Bola” moment becomes a relic, not a recurring headline.

Chioma:

The Punch story that Sunday Dare labelled Atiku’s “Bola” as “insolence” has sparked a wider debate on presidential decorum. On one hand, the Presidency’s office traditionally demands the title President as a sign of respect, and Dare’s warning reflects concerns that casual first‑name usage may erode that norm.

On the other side, Atiku’s supporters argue that the nickname is merely colloquial banter, not a calculated slight, and that political rivals often seize on language to stir headlines.

Both perspectives raise a key question for us: Should Nigerian political culture evolve to tolerate informal address, or does preserving formal titles safeguard institutional dignity?

What do you think, listeners?