The Presidency, yesterday, launched a fresh attack on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, accusing him of undermining Nigeria’s sovereignty by lobbying the United States (U.S.) against President Bola Tinubu and questioning his own legal history in America.
In a statement titled ‘When will Atiku Abubakar report ‘imself to President Trump?”, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, alleged that Atiku’s political ambition had eclipsed the qualities expected of a statesman.
Onanuga criticised what he described as efforts by Atiku’s U.S.-based lobbyists to petition President Trump, the U.S. State Department and members of the U.S. Congress over a 1993 civil forfeiture case involving Tinubu, arguing that the matter had long been resolved.
According to him, the issue had been settled more than three decades ago, litigated in the U.S. and subsequently addressed during Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election and at the Supreme Court.
He maintained that Nigeria is a sovereign nation and described attempts to seek foreign intervention in its domestic political affairs as inappropriate and contrary to the conduct expected of a former vice president.
While acknowledging that lobbying is a legitimate feature of American politics, Onanuga argued that engaging foreign lobbyists to revive allegations against a sitting Nigerian President amounted to an effort to internationalise domestic politics.
He maintained that Nigeria is a sovereign nation and described attempts to seek foreign intervention in its domestic political affairs as inappropriate and contrary to the conduct expected of a former vice president.
While acknowledging that lobbying is a legitimate feature of American politics, Onanuga argued that engaging foreign lobbyists to revive allegations against a sitting Nigerian President amounted to an effort to internationalise domestic politics
