The Presidency has accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of sacrificing statesmanship and national dignity to his ambition to become President of Nigeria.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, made the accusation in a statement on Friday.
Onanuga said Atiku’s decision to lobby the United States against President Tinubu over a civil forfeiture case dating back to 1993 was inappropriate and amounted to an attempt to undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty.
“Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s relentless desire to become President of Nigeria has regrettably closed his eyes to the virtues of statesmanship, decorum, and propriety expected of an elder statesman,” he said.
According to him, Atiku’s lobbying group in the United States recently submitted petitions to US President Donald Trump and the US State Department regarding the case, which he said had been settled over 30 years ago.
“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 the matter had been “thoroughly litigated, explained, and rendered moot” by the electoral mandates given to Tinubu by the people of Lagos and Nigeria.
Onanuga further described the move as an attempt to externalise domestic politics, insisting that Nigeria was a sovereign nation and not a satellite of any foreign power.
“Reporting the President of Nigeria to another country’s leader is not only inappropriate but also undermines the nation’s dignity and independence,” he said.
The presidential aide alleged that Atiku had spent $1.2 million on American lobbyists to campaign against Tinubu, challenging the former vice president to clarify his own legal standing in the United States.
He also linked Atiku to the William Jefferson bribery scandal and a 2010 US Senate investigation into foreign corruption.
Onanuga accused Atiku of being involved in a controversial privatisation programme during his tenure as vice president, alleging that national assets were sold to cronies at undervalued prices, leading to job losses and unpaid salaries and pensions.
He said Atiku’s ambition to return to power was driven by a desire for diplomatic immunity and to avoid potential legal issues abroad.
“Recycling discredited allegations and documents from the 2023 campaign will not improve his chances in 2027,” Onanuga said.
The presidential aide accused the former vice president of resorting to “media theatrics and lobbying in Washington” instead of presenting policy alternatives to address Nigeria’s challenges.
He, however, said President Tinubu remained focused on his Renewed Hope Agenda, including economic stabilisation, attracting investments, securing the country and improving Nigeria’s global standing.
“President Tinubu is unfazed by Atiku’s theatrics as he remains focused on his Renewed Hope Agenda,” Onanuga stated.
