You’d Be Rotting in Jail If You Were Chinese – Presidency Fires Atiku Over Petitions to Trump

The Presidency has launched a scathing attack on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over reports that lobbyists acting on his behalf submitted petitions to United States President Donald Trump, members of the US Congress and other American officials concerning President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s past civil forfeiture case.

In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency described the alleged move as an attempt to undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty and damage the country’s international reputation for partisan political purposes.

The Presidency alleged that Atiku spent about $1.2 million engaging American lobbyists to circulate petitions and campaign materials aimed at influencing the position of the US government regarding President Tinubu.

Onanuga argued that rather than taking Nigeria’s political disagreements abroad, opposition leaders should pursue legitimate democratic processes within the country’s legal and constitutional framework.

He further criticized Atiku’s actions, claiming that if similar conduct had occurred in a country such as China, the former vice president would have faced severe legal consequences, including imprisonment.

The Presidency also questioned Atiku’s decision to internationalize domestic political disputes, maintaining that such actions could negatively affect Nigeria’s image and diplomatic relations.

The statement insisted that President Tinubu has never been convicted of any criminal offence in the United States and accused the opposition of attempting to revive issues that have long been addressed through legal processes.

According to the Presidency, the Tinubu administration remains focused on governance, economic reforms and improving national security despite continued political criticism from opposition figures.

The latest exchange reflects the intensifying political rivalry ahead of the 2027 general elections, with both the ruling All Progressives Congress and opposition parties stepping up efforts to shape public opinion and defend their respective positions on national issues.