Paul Ibe, media aide to African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, responds to criticism after referring to President Bola Tinubu as “Bola.” In a post on X, Ibe frames his remarks as an “apology,” saying he had not expected using the informal name to draw “national distress.”
In his explanation, Ibe suggests he “perhaps” should have used “Amoda,” a name he says has long been associated with Tinubu. He also argues that ongoing public disputes around Tinubu’s name, background, and educational records make even everyday references to the president feel like they require extra clarification. The exchanges come amid renewed political argument between supporters of Tinubu’s administration and opposition figures ahead of the 2027 general election.
The outlets differ mainly in emphasis: one highlights Ibe’s sarcasm and insistence on the choice of address, while the other includes more detail about the context of education-record controversies. Both report that Ibe’s comments are tied to the wider political debate over Tinubu’s personal history and documents.
