The Nigerian Presidency has condemned former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for contacting US President Donald Trump and members of the American Congress to raise issues regarding President Bola Tinubu. This move involves reopening a 1993 civil forfeiture case that the government insists was resolved long ago without any criminal conviction.
Bayo Onanuga, the presidential spokesman, released a statement describing the move as a desperate political tactic that degrades the office of a statesman. The Presidency argued that taking domestic grievances to foreign powers compromises Nigeria’s sovereignty and independence. Officials asserted that the legitimacy of President Tinubu’s administration has already been firmly established by the Nigerian electorate and the Supreme Court.
Furthermore, the statement questioned Atiku’s motivations, suggesting that his actions are driven by a need to avoid his own past legal complications, specifically citing his involvement in the William Jefferson bribery scandal and US Senate investigations into offshore corruption. The Presidency highlighted that while Atiku focuses on international lobbying efforts, President Tinubu remains dedicated to the Renewed Hope Agenda and the national economic recovery.
