“REPORT YOURSELF FIRST” — presidency knocks Atiku over $1.2m US lobbying drive
The presidency in Nigeria has issued a blistering attack on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, accusing him of diminishing his elder statesman status and undermining Nigeria’s national sovereignty through “reckless public statements” and foreign lobbying efforts directed at US President Donald Trump and the United States Congress.
In a press statement signed on Thursday by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy rategy, the administration tackled the former vice president over reports that his US-based lobbying group submitted petitions to President Trump and the US State Department regarding President Bola Tinubu’s long-settled 1993 civil forfeiture case.
The presidency argued that reporting a sitting Nigerian President to foreign leaders undermines national independence and self-respect, noting that Nigeria is “not a satellite of any foreign power.”
READ ALSO: Atiku’s $1.2m US lobbyist submits Tinubu’s forfeiture records to Trump, Congress
Onanuga stressed that the 1993 civil matter in the US was resolved over three decades ago without any criminal conviction or finding of guilt, adding that Nigerians overwhelmingly rendered the issue moot through the 2023 presidential election and subsequent Supreme Court rulings.
The statement alleged that Atiku expended $1.2 million on American lobbyists, challenging the former vice president to clarify his own historical legal standing and past scrutinies in the United States.
The presidency cited Atiku’s involvement in the William Jefferson bribery scandal and the 2010 US Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations report, chaired by the late Senator Carl Levin, which documented how offshore companies were allegedly used to move funds into the US.
The administration criticized Atiku’s tenure as vice president, characterising the privatisation exercise under his watch as an “egregious privatisation heist” that resulted in job losses and unpaid pensions currently being settled by President Tinubu.
“A self-defeating fishing expedition”
Describing Atiku’s actions as “media theatrics and lobbying in Washington,” Onanuga asserted that the presidential candidate’s pursuit of the office is driven by a desire for diplomatic immunity rather than genuine concern for national development.
“Reporting the President of Nigeria to another country’s leader is not only inappropriate but also undermines the nation’s dignity and independence. Such actions are incongruous with the responsibilities of a statesman and are ultimately self-defeating,” Onanuga stated.
He added that President Tinubu remains unfazed by “political actors and perennial losers who now seek validation abroad,” reiterating that the administration remains focused on its Renewed Hope Agenda, economic stabilization, counter-terrorism, and attracting foreign investment.
The statement indicates rising political tensions as figures across the political spectrum position themselves ahead of the 2027 general election cycle. Neither Atiku Abubakar nor his media team has formally issued a response to the presidency’s latest statement as of the time of publication.
