Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the Tinubu administration of using personal attacks instead of answering questions about public accountability and transparency.
Atiku, the Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), said the Presidency’s latest statement focused on attacking him instead of addressing issues that concern Nigerians.
He made the remarks in a statement issued on Thursday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu.
Atiku said the Presidency spent several paragraphs on personal criticism without responding to questions that remain in the public interest.
He said governments that replace facts with insults show they have no convincing answers.
According to him, Nigerians expected clear explanations but received political attacks instead.
Atiku said asking questions about information contained in public records should not be seen as an attack on Nigeria’s sovereignty.
He said no one had reported Nigeria to any foreign authority, adding that the issue concerns publicly available records relating to the occupant of the country’s highest office.
Atiku argued that wrapping the issue in national sentiment does not remove the need for clear answers.
He noted that the records were not created by the opposition, the ADC, or any political group.
The former Vice President criticised the Presidency for reviving old political allegations against him instead of addressing the issues before it.
He said Nigerians can separate political mudslinging from factual responses. He added that personal attacks cannot erase public records or replace transparency.
Atiku described it as ironic that an administration seeking foreign investment, loans and favourable international ratings now portrays international scrutiny as an attack on Nigeria’s independence.
He said governments cannot welcome international recognition when it suits them and reject scrutiny when difficult questions arise. According to him, accountability remains a democratic duty.
Atiku rejected the argument that winning an election settles every question about public accountability.
He said elections give political authority but do not remove the public’s right to ask questions. He added that no elected official is exempt from explaining issues that concern Nigerians.
Atiku urged the Presidency to drop what he described as a combative approach and provide clear, factual answers. He said if the government believes public records have been misunderstood, it should present evidence instead of insults.
He maintained that history shows confident governments answer scrutiny with openness rather than hostility.
He said Nigerians deserve answers, not insults.
He added that citizens want to know whether President Bola Tinubu forfeited money to the Government of the United States over alleged drug-related offences.
According to him, only facts and transparency can resolve the questions now before the public.
External Links
African Democratic Congress (ADC): https://adc.org.ng/
Presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria: https://statehouse.gov.ng/
United States Department of Justice: https://www.justice.gov/
