The Presidency has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over reports that a lobbying group acting on his behalf submitted petitions to United States President Donald Trump and members of the U.S. Congress concerning President Bola Tinubu, describing the move as inappropriate and inconsistent with the conduct expected of a Nigerian statesman.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, questioned Atiku’s decision to take domestic political issues to foreign authorities, insisting that Nigeria’s electoral and judicial institutions had already resolved matters relating to President Tinubu’s eligibility and past legal controversies.
The statement, titled “When Will Atiku Abubakar Report Himself to President Trump?”, accused the former vice president of allowing his long-standing presidential ambition to overshadow the principles of statesmanship, decorum and respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty.
According to the Presidency, Atiku’s continued criticism of President Tinubu and his reported engagement of lobbyists in the United States amount to an unnecessary attempt to revive issues that have already been settled both legally and politically.
Onanuga said the latest development involved petitions allegedly submitted by Atiku’s lobbying team to President Trump and the U.S. State Department concerning a civil forfeiture case dating back to 1993 involving Tinubu.
He argued that the matter had been concluded decades ago and did not result in any criminal conviction or finding of guilt against the President.
According to the statement, the issue has also been extensively litigated in Nigeria during the 2023 presidential election and was ultimately resolved through the country’s electoral process and judicial system.
“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,” the statement said.
The Presidency maintained that attempts to resurrect the case represent an effort to revisit issues that have already been addressed by both Nigerian voters and the courts.
It argued that Nigeria is a sovereign nation whose internal political disputes should be resolved through its democratic institutions rather than through foreign governments or international lobbying efforts.
“It is important to remind Atiku and his associates that Nigeria is a sovereign nation, not a satellite of any foreign power,” the statement read.
According to Onanuga, reporting the President of Nigeria to another country’s leadership undermines the nation’s dignity and independence and falls short of the standards expected of someone seeking the country’s highest political office.
The Presidency acknowledged that lobbying is a legitimate aspect of American politics but argued that employing foreign lobbyists to advance political arguments against a sitting Nigerian president risks internationalising domestic political disagreements.
It maintained that Nigerians had already expressed their will through the February 2023 presidential election and that the Supreme Court had also delivered its final judgment on the election, making further attempts to revisit the matter unnecessary.
The statement also questioned Atiku’s own legal history in the United States, urging the former vice president to address issues previously raised in connection with American investigations.
According to the Presidency, Atiku’s name featured prominently during investigations linked to former U.S. Congressman William Jefferson, who was convicted in a corruption case in the United States.
The statement further referenced a 2010 report of the United States Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations titled Keeping Foreign Corruption Out of the United States: Four Case Histories, which examined international financial transactions involving several individuals, including Atiku Abubakar and his former wife, Jennifer Douglas.
The Presidency alleged that the report documented the use of offshore companies to transfer funds into the United States and argued that Atiku should provide clarification on matters relating to those investigations.
Onanuga further claimed that Atiku’s persistent presidential ambition is influenced by personal considerations and argued that revisiting allegations previously raised during the 2023 election campaign would not improve his political prospects ahead of the 2027 general election.
The statement also criticised Atiku’s record as Vice President between 1999 and 2007, particularly the Federal Government’s privatisation programme implemented during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
According to the Presidency, the privatisation exercise resulted in the sale of national assets under controversial circumstances and contributed to job losses as well as outstanding salary and pension obligations that the current administration claims it is working to address.
The Presidency maintained that Atiku’s record in public office does not support his renewed bid for the presidency and argued that Nigerians should instead assess political leaders based on their performance and contributions to national development.
It also faulted the former vice president for allegedly concentrating on political campaigns and international lobbying rather than presenting concrete policy alternatives to address Nigeria’s economic and security challenges.
According to the statement, the country’s pressing issues require constructive engagement, practical solutions and responsible leadership rather than political disputes conducted on the international stage.
The Presidency reiterated that President Tinubu remains focused on implementing the Renewed Hope Agenda despite criticism from political opponents.
Onanuga said the administration’s priorities include stabilising the economy, improving national security, attracting local and foreign investments, strengthening public institutions and restoring Nigeria’s standing within the international community.
He insisted that the President would not be distracted by political developments or actions taken by opposition figures ahead of the 2027 elections.
The statement concluded by reaffirming the Tinubu administration’s commitment to governance, economic reforms and national development while expressing confidence that Nigerians would ultimately judge political leaders based on their records and achievements rather than political campaigns conducted outside the country.
The Presidency’s latest remarks are expected to further intensify the political exchanges between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition figures as preparations gradually gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections. At the time of filing this report, Atiku Abubakar had not publicly responded to the Presidency’s latest statement.
