Show discipline, calling Atiku names not an argument – Shaibu slams Presidency
Phrank Shaibu, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), responded on Saturday to remarks made by the Presidency that referred to Abubakar as a “veteran presidential candidate.”
The comment from President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, followed a warning from Dangote Refinery regarding potential impacts on refining margins due to proposed changes in government fuel price controls and the restoration of subsidies.
In his reaction, Shaibu emphasized that Onanuga’s remarks did not constitute a valid argument. He criticized the need for a more disciplined approach from the Presidential office and cautioned against the use of mockery in political discourse.
Posting on social media platform X, Shaibu stated, “@aonanuga1956, ‘veteran presidential candidate’ is not an argument. It is what remains when the argument has left the room.”
He further urged Onanuga to review previous discussions on the matter before issuing further comments, noting, “You are, after all, a presidential spokesman. One would expect the office to impose some discipline on the temptation to substitute adolescent mockery for serious engagement.”
Shaibu expressed concern over the Presidency’s reliance on derogatory terms, arguing that while disagreements with Abubakar are valid, name-calling does not contribute constructively to political debate.
“There is nothing wrong with disagreeing with Atiku,” he stated. “But if the best contribution from the Presidency is name-calling, then the issue is no longer Atiku’s policy; it is the quality of argument coming from the Villa. My response to your colleague stands. Read it carefully. I have no intention of marking the same homework twice,” he added.
