In a dramatic escalation of Nigeria’s bitter political rivalry, Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has charged former Vice‑President Atiku Abubakar with breaking the law by continuing to deploy the National Coat of Arms on personal correspondence nearly two decades after leaving office.
The explosive claim coincides with Atiku’s recent resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during a week of national mourning for ex‑President Muhammadu Buhari, intensifying accusations of callous politicking.
Atiku’s resignation letter, dated 14 July 2025 and addressed to his ward chairman in Jada, Adamawa State, cited “irreconcilable differences” as his motive for quitting the PDP.
Yet Keyamo rebuked the timing, accusing Atiku of deliberately diverting attention from the solemn national tributes to Buhari, who died in London on 13 July 2025 at age 82 and was buried with full state honours on 15 July 2025.
“Releasing your letter…during this week of mourning is clearly an attempt to draw the spotlight away from such a solemn occasion and direct it on yourself,” Keyamo wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on 16 July 2025.
Keyamo’s more trenchant rebuke concerned Atiku’s unauthorised use of the National Coat of Arms on his private political stationery.
Under Section 6 of the Flags and Coats of Arms Act (Cap. F30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004), any person who uses the national coat of arms “in connection with the carrying on of any…body of persons” without a ministerial licence is guilty of an offence punishable by fine.
Keyamo warned that such misuse “borders on impersonation” and, if unchecked, could sow confusion were all former officials to adopt the emblem indiscriminately.
Nigeria’s prohibition is echoed internationally. In the United States, 18 U.S. Code § 713 forbids the use of the Presidential Seal or likeness of the Great Seal “in connection with…any advertisement, poster, circular…or stationery, for the purpose of conveying a false impression of sponsorship or approval by the Government”.
Similarly, U.S. executive practice restricts seal usage to official presidential correspondence, with unauthorised commercial or private display constituting a misdemeanour.
Atiku’s camp dismissed Keyamo’s charges as hypocritical theatre. In a retort on X, Atiku’s aide accused Keyamo of selective outrage, noting the minister’s silence over equally insensitive statements by other APC colleagues during Buhari’s passing.
They argued that Atiku’s “ceremonial letterhead” merely acknowledged the high office he once held—akin to former U.S. presidents retaining the White House seal on formal communications—and posed no risk of public deception.
The unrestricted use of national emblems by ex‑officials threatens institutional integrity. Historical abuses in various democracies demonstrate how rampant emblem misuse can erode public trust and blur lines between state and party.
In Nigeria, where symbols carry deep patriotic resonance, preserving the sanctity of the Coat of Arms is imperative.
Keyamo’s allegations against Atiku blend legal censure with pointed political criticism, casting fresh doubt on the former vice‑president’s motives amid a period of collective grief.
As both sides trade barbs, the dispute underscores broader questions about the respect due to national symbols and the ethical responsibilities of Nigeria’s political elite.
Whether Keyamo’s legal threat will culminate in prosecution remains uncertain, but the clash has already intensified a high‑stakes contest for public sympathy and legitimacy in the run‑up to 2027.
