Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the Presidency over its defence of President Bola Tinubu, saying its decision to reference China’s legal system had instead revived public debate over longstanding allegations linked to the President’s past.
In a statement issued on Saturday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described the Presidency’s argument as a “monumental own goal,” insisting that the attempt to attack him had only intensified scrutiny of President Tinubu.
The statement followed an earlier exchange between Atiku and the Presidency over reports that a group lobbying on his behalf in the United States submitted petitions to President Donald Trump and the U.S. State Department concerning Tinubu’s 1993 civil forfeiture case and other related matters.
Responding to the Presidency’s reaction, Atiku accused the administration of sidestepping the issues raised and resorting to personal attacks instead of addressing the substance of the concerns.
According to the statement, Nigerians had expected clear explanations from the government but were met with insults and political rhetoric rather than factual responses.
Atiku also criticised the Presidency’s decision to cite China as an example, noting that the country is globally recognised for its stringent anti-drug laws.
He argued that by using China as a benchmark, the Presidency had unintentionally invited Nigerians to compare the country’s tough legal standards with the allegations surrounding President Tinubu.
The former vice president maintained that he had never been indicted or convicted of corruption, drug-related offences or any other criminal offence in Nigeria or abroad, describing this as a matter of public record.
Atiku further argued that if China was to be used as a standard for accountability, Nigerians were equally entitled to question how Chinese authorities would have treated a case involving the forfeiture of $460,000 to the United States Government in a civil forfeiture proceeding over funds allegedly linked to narcotics trafficking and money laundering.
He said China’s strict anti-narcotics policies often trigger further investigations rather than bringing matters to a close.
Expanding his criticism, Atiku claimed that under China’s standards of public accountability, allegations of corruption, budget irregularities and abuse of office would have attracted swift official action.
He further accused the Tinubu administration of presiding over worsening economic hardship while failing to adequately address governance concerns.
The former vice president also dismissed the Presidency’s reliance on the U.S. Government’s diplomatic response to the matter, arguing that diplomatic correspondence between governments should not be interpreted as a judicial clearance or proof of innocence.
Atiku concluded by urging the Tinubu administration to shift its attention from political exchanges and concentrate on addressing Nigeria’s pressing economic and security challenges.
