The Presidency has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over what it described as efforts to lobby the United States against President Bola Tinubu, accusing the 2023 presidential candidate of undermining Nigeria’s sovereignty and pursuing personal political interests.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency questioned Atiku’s decision to reportedly petition US President Donald Trump, the US State Department and members of Congress over a decades-old civil forfeiture case involving President Tinubu.
According to the Presidency, the matter was resolved more than 30 years ago in the United States and had no criminal conviction or finding of guilt against Tinubu. It argued that the issue had also been addressed during Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election and subsequent legal proceedings.
The statement described Atiku’s alleged lobbying campaign as an attempt to internationalise domestic politics, insisting that Nigeria is a sovereign nation whose electoral and judicial decisions should be respected.
The Presidency further alleged that Atiku spent about $1.2 million on American lobbyists and challenged him to explain his own legal history in the United States, referencing his alleged links to the William Jefferson bribery investigation and a 2010 US Senate report on foreign corruption.
It also accused the former vice president of presiding over a flawed privatisation programme during his tenure in office, alleging that national assets were sold to associates at undervalued prices, resulting in job losses and unpaid pensions.
The statement maintained that Atiku should focus on presenting policy alternatives to Nigerians rather than engaging in what it described as “media theatrics” and lobbying abroad.
The Presidency said President Tinubu remains focused on implementing his Renewed Hope Agenda, strengthening the economy, improving security and attracting investment, adding that the administration would not be distracted by political opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
