Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini, Femi Fani-Kayode, has launched a fresh attack on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, accusing him of disrespecting President Bola Tinubu and recalling the controversy surrounding Atiku’s deleted post on the killing of Deborah Samuel in 2022.
Fani-Kayode made the remarks in a lengthy response to Atiku’s October 1 Independence Day address, in which the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate criticised Tinubu’s administration over the economy, security, borrowing, fuel prices and other national issues.
Atiku repeatedly referred to Tinubu simply as “Bola” during the address, including while questioning the President’s declaration that Nigeria had entered an “age of prosperity.” Atiku argued that official economic indicators did not adequately reflect the difficulties faced by ordinary Nigerians and challenged the administration to demonstrate how its reforms had improved living standards.
Responding in a statement published on Sunday, October 4, Fani-Kayode described Atiku’s address as “intellectually-flawed, highly disrespectful, inherently dishonest and utterly bereft of decency, logic and rationality.”
He took particular exception to Atiku’s decision to refer to Tinubu by his first name rather than by his presidential title.
“Worse still you refused to address President Tinubu as ‘President’ but rather continuously and contemptuously referred to him by his first name, ‘Bola’,” Fani-Kayode said.
He then delivered the remark that has drawn attention to his response, saying he was tempted to address Atiku as “Kachalla,” a Hausa title associated with a leader or commander, but decided against it.
“Surely this level of pettiness is below even you. Yet despite this provocation, I will not refer to you as ‘Kachalla’, and I will accord you the respect that I still think you deserve,” he said.
Fani-Kayode also cited comments by Akin Osuntokun, a former political adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who had criticised Atiku’s repeated use of Tinubu’s first name.
Osuntokun argued that Atiku was entitled to criticise the President but said repeatedly addressing him as “Bola” was unnecessary and disrespectful to the office he occupies. Fani-Kayode endorsed that position and used it as a basis for a broader criticism of Atiku’s political record.
The former aviation minister then revisited Atiku’s relationship with Obasanjo during their time in government between 1999 and 2007. He accused Atiku of turning against his former principal and working with political allies to challenge Obasanjo’s leadership.
Fani-Kayode also referred to Atiku’s recent criticism of former President Goodluck Jonathan. During an interview earlier in 2026, Atiku described Jonathan as a decent but inexperienced politician and argued that his lack of experience contributed to difficulties in managing the country while president.
Jonathan subsequently responded to the criticism, saying that leaders inevitably make mistakes and pointing out that he was already 53 when he became president in 2010.
Fani-Kayode further recalled a recent exchange between Atiku and Vice President Kashim Shettima. He criticised Atiku’s response after Shettima challenged the former vice president to account for his political record and contributions to Nigerians.
The ambassador-designate also questioned Atiku’s references to northern cultural values, arguing that the former vice president had not demonstrated some of the qualities he associated with those traditions, including restraint, humility, loyalty, patience and compassion.
It was in this context that Fani-Kayode brought up the 2022 killing of Deborah Samuel, a Christian student at Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto State.
Samuel was killed by a mob on May 12, 2022, following an allegation that she had made blasphemous comments about Islam’s Prophet Muhammad. Her killing generated national and international condemnation and prompted renewed debate over religious violence, freedom of expression and the protection of citizens by state authorities.
At the time, Atiku’s verified social-media account published a message condemning the killing and expressing condolences to Samuel’s family and friends. The post was subsequently removed.
Atiku later explained that he had ordered the post to be deleted because it had been published without his approval. Speaking during a visit to Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki in Benin City on May 13, 2022, he said every tweet on his account required his approval and that the message concerning Samuel had not received his authorisation.
“I am not a person who is afraid to take a stand on issues,” Atiku said at the time, rejecting suggestions that the post had been removed because of political pressure.
Fani-Kayode nevertheless returned to the episode in his latest criticism, alleging that Atiku initially condemned Samuel’s killing before deleting the message and later explaining that it had not been authorised.
The issue remains one of the most controversial episodes associated with Atiku’s 2022 presidential campaign, particularly because the killing occurred during the period when political parties were preparing for the 2023 general election.
In his latest statement, Fani-Kayode went beyond the Deborah Samuel controversy to accuse Atiku of pursuing political power with excessive ambition. He also referred to comments attributed to Atiku’s former political ally and running mate, Rotimi Amaechi, concerning Atiku’s political prospects.
Fani-Kayode concluded his intervention by arguing that Atiku’s manner of addressing Tinubu demonstrated insufficient respect for the office of the President. He warned that the former vice president’s conduct could affect his aspiration to occupy the same office.
The exchange comes as political activity intensifies ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election. Atiku, now running under the African Democratic Congress, has emerged as one of the leading opposition figures challenging the Tinubu administration.
His Independence Day address focused heavily on the cost of living, fuel prices, public debt, government spending, security and transparency in public procurement. He also proposed a targeted fuel-production subsidy tied to domestic refining as part of his economic alternative.
Tinubu’s administration has continued to defend its economic reforms, including the removal of petrol subsidy and measures aimed at stabilising public finances and encouraging investment.
The latest confrontation between Atiku and Fani-Kayode therefore reflects the increasingly combative political atmosphere surrounding the 2027 contest. While Atiku has focused his criticism on the performance of the Tinubu government, Fani-Kayode has concentrated his response on what he considers the former vice president’s tone, political history and treatment of the President.
Neither side’s political argument resolves the broader questions now confronting Nigerian voters, including economic hardship, insecurity, public accountability and the performance of the government. Those issues are expected to remain central to political debate as the country moves closer to the 2027 general election.
For now, Fani-Kayode’s reference to “Kachalla” and his revival of the Deborah Samuel controversy have added another sharp exchange to the growing confrontation between supporters of the Tinubu administration and Atiku’s opposition campaign.
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