Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development, has faulted former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar for using a coat of arms letterhead to announce his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The minister also criticised Abubakar for making the resignation letter public during the national mourning period for ex-President Muhammadu Buhari.
Buhari, who died on Sunday at a London clinic, United Kingdom (UK), was buried on Tuesday in Daura, Katsina state.
President Bola Tinubu declared a seven-day national mourning in honour of Buhari.
However, on Wednesday, Abubakar’s resignation letter from the PDP, dated July 14, surfaced online.
Reacting to the resignation letter posted by Paul Ibe, Abubakar’s media adviser, on X, Keyamo said the former vice-president’s “perennial presidential ambition knows no sympathy or empathy”.
“Your Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, whilst I acknowledge that it is within your constitutional right to change political Parties at any time you may wish, however, releasing your letter of resignation from the PDP during this week of the mourning of our immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari, is clearly an attempt to draw the spotlight away from such a solemn occasion and direct it on yourself,” he wrote.
“In fact (as the image below shows) you prepared, typed, signed and delivered that letter the morning after the passing away of the former President was announced.
“With the greatest respect to you, this clearly demonstrates that your obsession with your perennial Presidential ambition knows no sympathy or empathy.”
Keyamo said the use of a coat of arms letterhead by Abubakar when he ceased to be vice-president 18 years ago ago is “illegal”.
“And since we are on the issue of your letter, it is both morally and legally wrong to continue to use the Coat of Arms of the Federal Government in your private or political communications when you stopped being a functionary of the Federal Government more than 18 years ago,” he said.
“Section 6 of the Flag and Coat of Arms Act, Cap. F30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, makes this an offence.”
Section 6 of the Flags and Coat of Arms Act states that “Any person who, otherwise than in conformity with the terms of a licence granted by the Minister or under other lawful authority, uses or displays- (a) in connection with the carrying on of any business, trade, profession or calling; or (b) in connection with the activities of any body of persons, whether corporate or unincorporate,
the National Flag, the National Coat of Arms or the Coat of Arms of royalty as Head of the Commonwealth, or any flag or arms so closely resembling that flag or either of those coat of arms that they might reasonably be taken to be that flag or coat of arms, shall be guilty of an offence against this Act.”
Keyamo said morally, it is also “reprehensible” to use the national symbol which suggests that Abubakar is acting on behalf of the government.
“It borders on impersonation. Imagine a situation where all former government functionaries continue to use the Coat of Arms of Nigeria in their personal, political or private communications. There would certainly be confusion everywhere,” he said.
Keyamo said as a lawyer and member of the federal executive council (FEC), he is duty-bound to protect the nation’s laws.
