Atiku’s US Lobbying Against Tinubu Is Self-Defeating, Affront To Nigeria’s Sovereignty — Presidency

The Presidency has described former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s attempt to revive President Bola Tinubu’s decades-old US forfeiture case through foreign lobbyists as self-defeating and an affront to Nigeria’s sovereignty.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Presidential Spokesperson Bayo Onanuga said Atiku’s “dismal record” in public service gives him no basis to seek Nigerians’ support, adding that the former vice-president “would be rotting away in jail for his crimes against Nigerian people if he were a Chinese.”

The statement followed an announcement on Wednesday by Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., a Washington-based lobbying firm, that it had begun providing US Department of Justice (DOJ) records relating to drug-trafficking allegations against Tinubu to members of President Donald Trump’s administration, the US Congress and senior congressional staff.

The firm was engaged by Atiku in March under a 12-month lobbying contract worth $1.2 million to bolster his reputation in the United States, facilitate engagements with US officials and lawmakers, and counter what the agreement described as the Nigerian government’s lobbying narratives.

In a post on X, the lobbying firm said many within the US government were previously unaware of the DOJ allegations concerning Tinubu and that it intended to ensure the complete collection of court filings, a supporting affidavit and related federal court decisions were brought to President Trump’s attention.

Responding, Onanuga said Atiku’s “relentless desire to become president of Nigeria” had caused him to abandon the virtues of statesmanship, decorum and propriety expected of an elder statesman.

“Instead of embracing the dignity and maturity that come with his standing, he has continued to diminish himself through reckless public statements and desperate political manoeuvres,” the statement said.

“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.

“In his latest act, Atiku Abubakar’s lobbying group in the US has submitted petitions to President Trump and the US State Department regarding a civil forfeiture case from 1993—a matter long settled, with no criminal conviction or finding of guilt.”

Onanuga argued that the issue Atiku was attempting to revive had been resolved more than 30 years ago and had been thoroughly litigated.

He added that the matter had also been overtaken by the electoral mandates given to Tinubu by voters in Lagos and across Nigeria.

“Reviving this matter today is an affront to the intelligence of Nigerians and an attempt to rewrite history for personal gain,” he said.

“It is important to remind Atiku and his associates that Nigeria is a sovereign nation, 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. Such actions are incongruous with the responsibilities of a statesman and are ultimately self-defeating.”

The presidential aide urged Atiku to respect the country and the office he seeks, even if he had chosen to disregard his own self-respect.

While acknowledging that lobbying is a legitimate aspect of American politics, Onanuga said hiring foreign lobbyists to circulate what he described as discredited documents against a sitting Nigerian president amounted to externalising domestic politics and undermining Nigeria’s sovereignty.

“Nigerians resolved this matter at the ballot in February 2023 and in the Supreme Court. That verdict stands, and Atiku’s latest fishing expedition would amount to nought,” he said.

Onanuga also challenged the former vice-president to clarify his own legal standing in the United States if he could spend $1.2 million on American lobbyists to campaign against Tinubu.

He referenced Atiku’s alleged connection to the William Jefferson bribery scandal and a US Senate investigation titled Keeping Foreign Corruption Out of the United States: Four Case Histories.

According to Onanuga, the report, released in February 2010 and chaired by former US Senator Carl Levin, documented allegations that Atiku used offshore companies to move suspicious funds, including alleged bribes from multinational firms, into the United States.

The presidential spokesperson further alleged that Atiku’s quest for the presidency was driven not only by what he described as “marabout-fuelled ambition” but also by a desire for diplomatic immunity and protection from potential legal issues abroad.

“Recycling discredited allegations and documents from the 2023 campaign will not improve his chances in 2027,” he said.

He also criticised Atiku’s role in the privatisation programme during his tenure as vice-president, alleging that national assets were sold to associates at undervalued prices, resulting in job losses and unpaid salaries and pensions.

Onanuga said that rather than present policy alternatives to address Nigeria’s challenges, the former vice-president had chosen media theatrics and lobbying efforts in Washington.

“The challenges Nigeria faces require serious engagement, thoughtful solutions, and leadership at home—not grandstanding abroad,” he said.

He added that President Tinubu remains focused on implementing the Renewed Hope Agenda, stabilising the economy, attracting investment, improving security and restoring Nigeria’s global standing.

“He is not distracted by political actors, perennial losers like Atiku, who now seek validation abroad,” Onanuga said.