By David Lawani, Abuja
The Presidency on Thursday accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of undermining Nigeria’s sovereignty by allegedly lobbying the United States government against President Bola Tinubu, saying the opposition leader’s actions amounted to an attempt to internationalise the country’s domestic political affairs.
The Presidency also challenged Atiku to explain his own legal history in the United States, insisting that reviving decades-old allegations against Tinubu would not alter the outcome of the 2023 presidential election or improve the former vice president’s chances in the 2027 polls.
The accusations were contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, titled “When Will Atiku Abubakar Report Himself to President Trump?”
According to Onanuga, Atiku’s alleged lobbying campaign in Washington, which reportedly included petitions to US President Donald Trump and the US State Department over a civil forfeiture case involving Tinubu dating back to 1993, was unnecessary because the matter had long been resolved.
“This issue was resolved over 30 years ago in the United States and has been thoroughly litigated, explained and rendered moot by the electoral mandates conferred on President Bola Tinubu by the people of Lagos and Nigeria at large,” Onanuga said.
The presidential spokesman argued that Nigerians had equally settled the matter through the ballot and subsequent judicial pronouncements following the 2023 presidential election.
He described the reported move to petition foreign authorities against the Nigerian President as an affront to the country’s sovereignty and dignity.
“Reporting the President of Nigeria to another country’s leader is not only inappropriate but also undermines the nation’s dignity and independence,” Onanuga stated.
He added that although lobbying was recognised as a legitimate aspect of American politics, engaging foreign lobbyists to revive what he described as discredited allegations against a sitting Nigerian president amounted to an attempt to export domestic political disputes.
According to him, “Nigerians resolved this matter at the ballot in February 2023 and in the Supreme Court. That verdict stands.”
The Presidency also turned the spotlight on Atiku’s own record in the United States, alleging that the former vice president featured prominently in investigations surrounding the William Jefferson bribery scandal and a US Senate report on foreign corruption.
Onanuga challenged Atiku to address those issues before seeking to portray Tinubu negatively before the American government.
“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,” he said.
The presidential aide further alleged that Atiku’s repeated quest for the presidency was driven by personal ambition rather than national interest, claiming that his latest political moves were aimed at reviving issues already settled by the courts and the electorate.
He also revisited the privatisation programme carried out during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, accusing Atiku, who chaired the National Council on Privatisation, of overseeing the disposal of national assets to associates at the expense of ordinary Nigerians.
According to the Presidency, the exercise led to job losses and unpaid salaries and pensions, some of which the Tinubu administration was now addressing.
The statement further faulted the former vice president for allegedly focusing on media campaigns and foreign lobbying instead of presenting alternative policies to tackle Nigeria’s economic and security challenges.
“The challenges Nigeria faces require serious engagement, thoughtful solutions and leadership at home—not grandstanding abroad,” Onanuga said.
He maintained that President Tinubu remained focused on implementing the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda despite what he described as politically motivated attacks from the 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,” the presidential spokesman added.
