The African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has declared that the Nigerian presidency is not President Bola Tinubu’s ancestral stool or a shrine.

Atiku made the remark while faulting criticisms from the presidency over his decision to address Tinubu by his first name, “Bola.”

Tinubu’s media aide, Sunday Dare, had tackled Atiku for addressing the president by his first name, “Bola.”

Dare said Atiku’s decision showed insolence and desperation.

Reacting, Atiku said the presidency’s inability to defend Tinubu’s disastrous record had led to the manufactured outrage against him.

He disclosed this in a statement signed by his media aide, Phrank Shaibu.

According to him: “@aonanuga1956, @fkeyamo and @SundaydareSD, when you cannot defend Bola Tinubu’s disastrous record, you abandon the suffering of Nigerians and manufacture outrage over Atiku calling your principal by his own first name. Bola is his name.

“Nigerians elected a president, not an emperor. Public office does not confer divinity, and the Presidential Villa is not a royal court before which citizens must kneel, bow and whisper.

“The presidency is not Tinubu’s ancestral stool, and Nigeria is not his private estate.

“Atiku Abubakar addressed Bola Tinubu directly because the suffering of Nigerians demands direct language. Petrol is expensive. Food is expensive.

“The presidency is not a shrine. It is an office held in trust for the Nigerian people. Its occupant is answerable to citizens and open to scrutiny from every Nigerian, including the leading opposition figure in the country.

“Atiku does not require an appointment from Tinubu to speak. He does not need permission from the APC to propose solutions.”