‘When Will Atiku Report Himself to Trump?’ Presidency Escalates War of Words Over US Lobbying

The Presidency on Thursday launched a blistering counterattack against former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate for the 2027 election, Atiku Abubakar, accusing him of exporting Nigeria’s domestic political contest to the United States by allegedly lobbying President Donald Trump, the US Congress and the US State Department over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decades-old civil forfeiture case. 

In a statement titled “When Will Atiku Abubakar Report Himself to President Trump?”, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described Atiku’s reported actions as unbecoming of a former vice president and elder statesman, saying they undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty and dignity.

 According to the Presidency, the civil forfeiture matter, which dates back to 1993, was resolved more than three decades ago in the United States, did not result in a criminal conviction against President Tinubu and has since been overtaken by both Nigeria’s electoral process and judicial decisions affirming his election.

“Reporting the President of Nigeria to another country’s leader is not only inappropriate but also undermines the nation’s dignity and independence,” Onanuga said. 

The Presidency argued that while lobbying is recognised within the American political system, employing foreign lobbyists to advance domestic political disputes amounts to an attempt to externalise Nigeria’s internal affairs.

It maintained that Nigerians had already spoken through the ballot in the 2023 presidential election and that the Supreme Court had affirmed the outcome, insisting that those decisions remain final.

The statement also shifted attention to Atiku’s own history in the United States, suggesting the former vice president should address questions surrounding previous American investigations before raising allegations against President Tinubu.

The Presidency referenced the William Jefferson bribery case, which led to the conviction of the former US congressman, and the 2010 US Senate investigative report titled Keeping Foreign Corruption Out of the United States: Four Case Histories.

According to the statement, Atiku and his former wife, Jennifer Douglas, featured in that Senate investigation, which examined financial transactions involving offshore companies and alleged transfers of funds into the United States.

The Presidency did not present any new evidence beyond those historical references. 

The State House also claimed that Atiku had spent $1.2 million on American lobbyists to pursue the campaign against President Tinubu, arguing that such efforts were aimed at reviving issues already settled politically and legally.

Onanuga described the renewed campaign as another attempt to recycle allegations that featured prominently during the 2023 presidential election but failed to alter the outcome at either the polls or the courts.

The Presidency further accused Atiku of allowing his long-running presidential ambition to overshadow statesmanship.

It alleged that his actions were driven by a desire to secure political power rather than contribute solutions to Nigeria’s challenges, while also criticising his role in the privatisation programme implemented during the administration in which he served as vice president. 

The statement described that privatisation exercise as deeply flawed, alleging that national assets were sold below value to politically connected individuals, resulting in job losses and unpaid pensions. 

Those allegations reflect the Presidency’s position and have remained subjects of political debate over the years.

Despite the latest political exchange, the Presidency insisted President Tinubu remains focused on governance and will not be distracted by opposition attacks.

According to Onanuga, the administration’s priority remains implementing the Renewed Hope Agenda, stabilising the economy, improving security, attracting investment and restoring Nigeria’s global standing. 

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

The latest exchange marks another escalation in the increasingly sharp political rivalry between President Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar as political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 general election gathers momentum.