A public dispute arose on Wednesday between Paul Ibe, a media aide to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, and former Senator Shehu Sani regarding the opposition’s decision to employ a United States lobbyist. The firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., has reportedly been circulating U.S. government documents concerning alleged past drug trafficking activities linked to President Bola Tinubu.
Shehu Sani publicly denounced the move on X, labeling it an unpatriotic act that harms Nigeria’s global image. He argued that opposition parties should focus on domestic democratic processes rather than inviting foreign intervention, warning that such tactics could trigger international sanctions or travel restrictions against Nigerian citizens.
Paul Ibe countered these claims by defending the use of lobbyists as a necessary tool when dealing with what he termed a dictatorship. He noted that the current administration had previously invested $9 million in U.S. lobbying services. Furthermore, Ibe asserted that the public has a fundamental right to review FBI and Department of Justice files related to the President’s past financial forfeiture case. He challenged Tinubu’s supporters to permit the full release of these records if they have nothing to conceal. The exchange concluded with Ibe raising a personal grievance regarding an alleged outstanding commitment from Sani during his time as a committee chairman.
