The Presidency on Thursday criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over reports that his lobbying group in the United States submitted petitions to President Donald Trump and the US State Department concerning President Bola Tinubu, describing the move as inappropriate and detrimental to Nigeria’s sovereignty.
In a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency said Atiku’s actions amounted to an attempt to internationalise domestic political issues and undermine the country’s independence.
The statement was issued in response to reports that Atiku’s lobbyists had raised concerns in the United States regarding a 1993 civil forfeiture case involving President Tinubu.
According to the Presidency, the matter was resolved more than three decades ago and did not result in any criminal conviction or finding of guilt against the President.
“It is baffling and disappointing that someone who has sought the presidency for over three decades now resorts to reporting the President of Nigeria to US President Donald Trump and members of the US Congress,” Onanuga stated.
He argued that taking domestic political disputes to foreign governments was inconsistent with the conduct expected of a national political leader.
“Reporting the President of Nigeria to another country’s leader is not only inappropriate but also undermines the nation’s dignity and independence. Nigeria is a sovereign nation, not a satellite of any foreign power,” he said.
The Presidency maintained that issues relating to the forfeiture case had already been settled through both the electoral process and judicial proceedings.
“Nigerians resolved this matter at the ballot in February 2023 and in the Supreme Court. That verdict stands, and Atiku’s latest fishing expedition would amount to nought,” the statement added.
Onanuga also challenged the former Vice President to address questions surrounding his own legal history in the United States, citing references to past American investigations involving Atiku and his former wife, Jennifer Douglas.
The Presidency specifically referred to the William Jefferson bribery scandal and a 2010 United States Senate investigation titled Keeping Foreign Corruption Out of the United States: Four Case Histories, which examined alleged financial transactions linked to foreign public officials.
“Furthermore, if Atiku Abubakar can spend $1.2 million on American lobbyists to report President Tinubu, perhaps he should also clarify his own legal standing in the United States,” Onanuga said.
The statement further criticised Atiku’s role in Nigeria’s privatisation programme during his tenure as Vice President, alleging that national assets were sold below value to politically connected individuals.
The Presidency also questioned Atiku’s continued pursuit of the presidency, alleging that his ambition was partly motivated by a desire to obtain diplomatic immunity.
“Atiku’s obsession with the presidency is driven not just by his marabout-fuelled ambition, but by a desire for diplomatic immunity and to evade potential legal issues abroad,” the statement claimed.
Despite the criticism, the Presidency insisted that President Tinubu remained focused on governance and would not be distracted by political opposition.
“President Tinubu is unfazed by Atiku’s theatrics as he remains focused on his Renewed Hope Agenda, stabilising the economy, attracting investments, securing the nation, and restoring Nigeria’s standing in the world,” Onanuga stated.
The Presidency added that the administration would continue pursuing its policy agenda while addressing the country’s economic and security challenges.
Atiku, who contested the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, has since aligned with the African Democratic Congress ahead of the 2027 general elections.
