Atiku’s aide tackles Shehu Sani for condemning US lobbying against Tinubu

A public disagreement has erupted between former Nigerian senator Shehu Sani and Paul Ibe, media adviser to ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, concerning the opposition's decision to engage a U.S. lobbying firm. The firm's objective is to secure documents related to President Bola Tinubu's alleged involvement in a drug trafficking case.

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Engaging US lobby groups to criminalise the President and his administration and curry favour from the US Government is unconscionable and unpatriotic.

Shehu Sani strongly criticized the move, labeling it "unpatriotic" and warning that it could severely damage Nigeria's international standing. He argued that such actions might not achieve their intended goals but would undoubtedly harm the country's global reputation, potentially leading to sanctions and visa restrictions for its citizens. Sani emphasized that political power should be pursued through democratic means within Nigeria, not by seeking foreign intervention.

Paul Ibe, however, defended the decision, asserting that hiring a lobbyist is not inherently wrong, especially when facing what he termed a "dictatorship." He countered Sani's claims by alleging that the Tinubu administration itself had previously spent a significant sum, reportedly $9 million, of public funds on U.S. lobbying firms.

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It may not achieve its objectives but will undoubtedly damage the international reputation of the country, escalate global repudiation against our citizens and lead us into the traps of sanctions and visa restrictions.

Ibe further argued that Nigerians are entitled to know the full details contained within FBI and Department of Justice records concerning President Tinubu's past, particularly the forfeiture of $460,000 to U.S. authorities over alleged drug trafficking. He questioned whether Nigerians deserved to know everything about their president, implying a strong affirmative answer.

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The opposition should fight and struggle for power within the borders of our country. Seeking foreign help for regime change in a democratic setting is wrong.

The exchange highlights a deep division within Nigerian political circles regarding the appropriate methods for seeking accountability and transparency from the highest levels of government, particularly when international actors and legal processes are involved.

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There's nothing wrong with hiring a lobbyist, especially when you are confronted with a dictatorship.