Politics

Keyamo Knocks Atiku for Addressing President Tinubu as ‘Bola’

Published

2 weeks ago

September 19, 2026

Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development

Keyamo Knocks Atiku for Addressing President Tinubu as ‘Bola’

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has criticised former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar for repeatedly referring to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu simply as “Bola” during a press conference on Nigeria’s rising petrol prices and cost of living.

Keyamo described the reference as “very disrespectful and discourteous”, arguing that political disagreements should not diminish the dignity attached to the office of the President.

The minister made the comments in a post on his X account on Friday, September 18, 2026, shortly after Atiku addressed journalists in Abuja on fuel prices, palliatives, electricity costs and economic hardship.

Keyamo said Atiku should recognise that, regardless of political differences, the office of the President deserved to be accorded the appropriate respect.

“The continuous reference to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu … as ‘Bola’ is very disrespectful and discourteous,” Keyamo said.

He added that Atiku should understand that “no matter your differences with Mr President,” the presidential office should be accorded the dignity it deserves.

Keyamo also accused the former Vice-President of speaking from a position of personal grievance, saying the tone of his remarks “reeks of pain and bitterness in his heart”.

The minister further referred to Atiku’s recent comments about the ages of the two politicians, arguing that it was inconsistent for Atiku to describe Tinubu as older than himself while also addressing him by his first name.

The criticism came after Atiku used his press conference to call on Tinubu to take immediate measures to reduce the price of petrol and diesel and ease the economic pressure on Nigerians.

Atiku argued that the removal of the petrol subsidy in May 2023 had contributed to higher transportation, logistics, food and energy costs, with households, workers, farmers and businesses bearing the consequences.

He said rising fuel costs had effects far beyond filling stations because higher transportation and logistics expenses eventually feed into the prices of food and other goods.

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Atiku urged Tinubu to reconsider the government’s approach and said the President should be willing to adopt a policy proposal capable of reducing petrol prices even if the idea originated from a political opponent.

“Bola Tinubu should not be ashamed to do what is necessary to lower the price of petrol simply because Atiku Abubakar proposed a government intervention,” he said.

He added that the President could rename the proposal or take credit for it if necessary, stressing that what mattered to him was for Nigerians to pay less for petrol.

Atiku also criticised the continued reliance on government palliatives to cushion the effects of economic hardship.

According to him, emergency assistance cannot substitute for policies that address the underlying causes of rising costs.

He argued that measures such as food distribution and cash support could provide temporary relief but would not restore Nigerians’ purchasing power if the costs of fuel, electricity, transportation and production continued to rise.

Atiku said the government’s economic performance should ultimately be assessed by whether ordinary Nigerians could afford essential goods and services, rather than by increases in government revenue or headline economic figures.

The ADC candidate also raised concerns over the planned phase-out of electricity subsidies from 2027, warning that another increase in energy costs could place additional pressure on households, small businesses and manufacturers.

He said businesses were already spending heavily on electricity, diesel and alternative power sources to remain operational.

Atiku argued that the experience following petrol subsidy removal should inform the government’s approach to electricity pricing and called for measures that would prevent additional pressure on consumers and productive businesses.

The former Vice-President’s intervention has drawn a response from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka said Atiku had not presented what he considered a credible alternative to the economic policies of the Tinubu administration.

Morka said Atiku, as a presidential candidate, should explain to Nigerians what he intended to do differently rather than simply ask the President to adopt his proposals.

Morka also criticised Atiku over his position on fuel subsidy removal, accusing him of supporting the policy during the 2023 presidential campaign before subsequently criticising the Tinubu administration over its implementation.

On electricity, Morka questioned Atiku’s criticism of the planned subsidy phase-out, arguing that the former Vice-President had previously served in government and had an opportunity to address challenges in Nigeria’s power sector.

Atiku’s position, however, is that his current proposal for government intervention is intended to reduce the cost of domestically refined petroleum products and protect consumers from the effects of high energy prices.

He has also argued that the government should focus on policies that increase purchasing power and reduce production costs rather than relying primarily on palliatives.

The competing positions have added to the growing political debate over petrol pricing, fuel subsidy policy, electricity costs and the wider cost of living as political parties prepare for the 2027 general election.

Keyamo’s intervention, however, was specifically focused on Atiku’s manner of addressing Tinubu and the dignity of the presidential office, rather than providing a detailed response to Atiku’s fuel-pricing proposal.

The dispute therefore combines a political disagreement over the appropriate way to address the President with a broader policy debate over how Nigeria should respond to high energy and living costs.

As the 2027 election approaches, fuel prices, electricity tariffs, subsidy policy, domestic refining and purchasing power are expected to remain prominent issues in exchanges between the Federal Government, the APC and opposition parties.

Keyamo Knocks Atiku for Addressing President Tinubu as ‘Bola’

Related Topics:Atiku Featured Keyamo Tinubu

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2027: Ajaero Questions Tinubu, Atiku, Obi’s Economic Approach, Highlights Adebayo’s Ideas

Published

12 hours ago

October 5, 2026

Trends Admin

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero

2027: Ajaero Questions Tinubu, Atiku, Obi’s Economic Approach, Highlights Adebayo’s Ideas

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has questioned the economic positions of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, while saying the ideas of Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate Adewole Adebayo deserve serious attention ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Ajaero made the comments during an interview with Seun Okinbaloye on Mic On, where he was asked about the economic policies of Atiku and other leading figures in the 2027 race.

Rather than focusing solely on Atiku’s economic proposals, the NLC president highlighted the positions of Adebayo and Accord Party presidential candidate Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, saying he had examined their ideas and was willing to listen to them.

“I have looked at Gbenga Hashim’s position and I think he’s an expert to an extent. I also looked at Adebayo. I may listen to them,” Ajaero said.

He subsequently contrasted the economic approaches of Adebayo and Olawepo-Hashim with those of Tinubu, Atiku and Obi.

“Peter Obi, Atiku and Asiwaju, they all have the same position and they have shown that they are market people from far right,” he said.

Ajaero’s remarks have drawn attention to the economic debate ahead of the 2027 election, particularly as issues such as inflation, fuel prices, electricity costs, unemployment, wages and declining purchasing power remain major concerns for Nigerians.

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Adebayo, who is contesting the 2027 presidency on the SDP platform, has built his campaign around social democracy, increased domestic production, job creation and a stronger role for government in providing public services and expanding economic opportunities.

The SDP candidate has also made energy reform a major part of his campaign, arguing that high energy costs and inadequate electricity supply continue to constrain households, businesses and industrial production.

His policy blueprint, Farewell to Poverty and Insecurity: Governance & Accelerated Development — Blueprint of a New Nigeria, 2027–2031, proposes mechanisms for monitoring government performance through measurable targets, periodic assessments and implementation milestones.

Adebayo has also advocated greater emphasis on domestic production, with the argument that Nigeria must reduce its dependence on imports and foreign exchange while strengthening local industries and productive capacity.

Olawepo-Hashim, whom Ajaero also mentioned, has similarly made energy and industrialisation central to his economic programme. His proposed Energy First agenda focuses on increasing domestic energy production, expanding refining capacity and reducing energy costs.

Ajaero’s comments do not amount to a formal endorsement of Adebayo or Olawepo-Hashim for the 2027 presidential election. Rather, the NLC president said their economic proposals were sufficiently different from those of the politicians he discussed to warrant further engagement.

The intervention comes as political parties and presidential candidates increasingly position their economic policies at the centre of the 2027 campaign, with competing proposals on fuel pricing, taxation, electricity, wages, industrialisation, employment and social protection.

For the NLC, which represents organised labour and has been at the forefront of debates over wages and the impact of economic reforms on workers, the direction of the next administration’s economic policy is expected to remain a major issue ahead of the election.

With the 2027 political contest gathering momentum, the competing economic visions of the presidential candidates are likely to face increased scrutiny from organised labour, businesses and voters as parties intensify their campaigns.

2027: Ajaero Questions Tinubu, Atiku, Obi’s Economic Approach, Highlights Adebayo’s Ideas

Politics

2027: Soludo Govt Accuses Peter Obi Of Plot To Destroy APGA

Published

17 hours ago

October 5, 2026

Trends Admin

2027: Soludo Govt Accuses Peter Obi Of Plot To Destroy APGA

The Anambra State Government has declared former governor Peter Obi and his Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) a threat to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) ahead of the 2027 presidential election, urging APGA supporters to resist the opposition party.

The state government made the declaration in a message issued through its New Media office on Monday, accusing Obi of working to weaken the party that gave him the platform to become governor of Anambra.

The government described its message as a “betrayal alert” to APGA supporters, alleging that Obi had been seeking to undermine the party since leaving it in 2014.

It urged party members in the state not to be swayed by Obi’s current political influence, arguing that APGA remained the political platform responsible for his emergence as governor.

The government said, “Since 2014, Obi has had one mission: to destroy the party that made him,” while calling on APGA members to defend the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

The development comes amid an increasingly tense political relationship between Obi and the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo.

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Obi governed Anambra from 2006 to 2014 on the APGA platform before leaving the party for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He later joined the Labour Party, under which he contested the 2023 presidential election, before becoming the presidential candidate of the NDC ahead of the 2027 election.

The former governor remains an influential political figure in the South-East, particularly in Anambra, where his 2023 presidential campaign recorded strong support.

The Anambra government’s latest position also comes against the backdrop of APGA’s alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The state government has previously defended its relationship with the President and maintained that supporting Tinubu does not conflict with APGA’s interests.

However, Obi’s emergence as the NDC presidential candidate has created a new political challenge for APGA, particularly because of his longstanding influence among voters in Anambra and the wider South-East.

The NDC has rejected the allegations against Obi, accusing the Soludo administration of attacking the former governor because of concerns about his popularity.

NDC Director of New Media and Strategic Communications, Theo Abu Agada, described the state government’s position as political blackmail and maintained that the party was confident of its prospects in the 2027 election.

The latest exchange has further widened the political divide between the camps of Peter Obi and Chukwuma Soludo, with both sides increasingly positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 presidential contest.

For APGA, the emergence of Obi and the NDC presents a particularly sensitive political challenge because of the former governor’s history with the party and his continued influence in Anambra.

The 2027 election is therefore expected to produce a major political contest in the state, with APGA seeking to retain its influence while Obi’s NDC attempts to convert his personal support base into wider electoral backing.

2027: Soludo Govt Accuses Peter Obi Of Plot To Destroy APGA

Politics

Nine Zamfara Lawmakers Dump APC for ADC Ahead of 2027

Published

20 hours ago

October 5, 2026

Trends Admin

Nine Zamfara Lawmakers Dump APC for ADC Ahead of 2027

Nine members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly have left the All Progressives Congress (APC) and defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The lawmakers cited concerns over insecurity, internal party divisions and what they described as inadequate attention to the welfare of residents and their constituents as reasons for their decision.

The lawmakers are Aliyu Ango Kagara, representing Talata Mafara South; Muktar Nasir, representing Kaura Namoda North; Faruk Dosara Musa, representing Maradun I; Basiru Bello, representing Bungudu West; Bashir A. Masama, representing Bukkuyum North; Ibrahim T. Tukur, representing Bakura; Nasiru Abdullahi, representing Maru North; Yusuf Muhammad Anka, representing Anka; and Bashar Aliyu, representing Gummi I.

Speaking on behalf of the lawmakers, Kagara said their concerns about the security situation in Zamfara had contributed to disagreements with the state government.

He said the lawmakers had raised the issue of insecurity on the floor of the Assembly, but that their position led to disagreements with Governor Dauda Lawal and their subsequent suspension.

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Kagara also alleged that joining the APC did not resolve their grievances, claiming that some party leaders failed to give them what they considered a fair hearing.

Earlier, some of the lawmakers announced their resignation from the APC in separate letters dated October 4, 2026.

In the letters, the lawmakers cited issues including insecurity, alleged injustice, internal divisions, uncertainty and concerns about governance.

One of the lawmakers also alleged that members of the Assembly had gone about 32 months without receiving salaries, allowances and other entitlements.

The claims about unpaid entitlements and other grievances are allegations by the affected lawmakers and have not been independently established in the reports.

The APC in Zamfara initially said it had not received official copies of the resignation letters. The party’s publicity secretary, Ibrahim Birnin-Magaji, said the documents had been seen on social media and that the party was awaiting formal communication through the appropriate party structures.

The defection represents a significant political realignment in Zamfara ahead of the 2027 elections, with the movement of the lawmakers potentially affecting the political balance within the state legislature.