Presidency Tackles Atiku for Reporting Tinubu to Trump, U.S. Congress

Nigeria's Presidency has strongly rebuked former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, accusing him of undermining national dignity by reporting President Bola Tinubu to U.S. President Donald Trump and the U.S. Congress. The Presidency described Abubakar's actions as baffling, particularly given his long-standing ambition for the presidency, which he has pursued for over three decades.

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Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s relentless desire to become President of Nigeria has regrettably closed his eyes to the virtues of statesmanship, decorum, and propriety expected of an elder statesman.

Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga issued a statement detailing the Presidency's criticism. He highlighted that Abubakar's lobbying group in the U.S. submitted petitions concerning a 1993 civil forfeiture case. The Presidency emphasized that this matter was resolved over 30 years ago, involved no criminal conviction or finding of guilt, and has been rendered moot by electoral mandates conferred upon President Tinubu.

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It is baffling and disappointing that someone who has sought the presidency for over three decades would now resort to reporting the President of Nigeria to US President Donald Trump and members of the US Congress.

The Presidency argued that reviving this settled issue is an affront to Nigerians' intelligence and an attempt at historical revisionism for personal gain. It stressed that Nigeria is a sovereign nation and that such actions are inappropriate and undermine the country's independence. The statement urged Abubakar to show respect for the country he aspires to lead, even if he disregards his own self-respect.

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

While acknowledging that lobbying is a part of American politics, the Presidency condemned the use of paid foreign agents to discredit a sitting president, asserting that it compromises the nation's sovereignty. The Presidency's strong reaction underscores the political tensions surrounding Abubakar's alleged actions and the broader implications for Nigeria's international standing.

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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.