Paul Ibe, media adviser to African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has fired back at former Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani over his criticism of the reported engagement of a United States lobbying firm by Atiku.
Ibe’s response came after Sani described the alleged move to hire U.S. lobbyists against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration as “unconscionable and unpatriotic,” warning that it could damage Nigeria’s international reputation and expose the country to sanctions and visa restrictions.
Reacting in a post on X, Ibe argued that there was nothing improper about engaging lobbyists, particularly under what he described as a “dictatorship.”
“There’s nothing wrong with hiring a lobbyist, especially when you are confronted with a dictatorship,” Ibe wrote.
He alleged that President Tinubu had also engaged a U.S. lobbying firm, claiming that the Nigerian government spent $9 million on such services six months ago.
“Recall that six months ago, Tinubu splurged $9 million of Nigeria’s hard-earned money on a U.S. lobby firm,” he stated.
Ibe further argued that the controversy surrounding Tinubu’s past legal issues in the United States remained more damaging to Nigeria’s image than any lobbying effort.
He referenced court records relating to Tinubu’s forfeiture of $460,000 to U.S. authorities, describing the matter as one Nigerians deserve to know more about.
“It is concerning that Nigeria’s President and the over 200 million citizens of the most populous black nation in the world are carrying a heavy burden,” he said, adding that Nigerians were entitled to know the contents of the FBI and U.S. Department of Justice files relating to the President.
“Should we continue to cover it up? No. Do Nigerians deserve to know what is in the FBI and DOJ files about Tinubu? Yes. Nigerians are entitled to know everything about their President or a prospective President,” Ibe wrote.
He maintained that those opposed to efforts aimed at obtaining the so-called “#TinubuUSFiles” should have no reason to resist if they had nothing to hide.
“If Tinubu and latter-day allies like you have nothing to hide, then you will not be preoccupied with blocking every move to unravel the #TinubuUSFiles. After all, a clear conscience fears no accusation,” he added.
Ibe also took a personal swipe at Shehu Sani, referring to what he described as an “unfinished business” dating back to Sani’s tenure as chairman of the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on the Humanitarian Crisis in the North-East.
According to him, the committee had investigated and recommended the prosecution of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal.
Without providing further details, Ibe urged the former senator to fulfil what he described as an outstanding commitment.
“Before you begin to holler ‘blackmail’, I will encourage you to honour your outstanding commitment to me. I don’t want it to be a subject of public discussion. It is important that we practice what we preach, most distinguished,” he wrote.
The exchange follows Shehu Sani’s earlier assertion that seeking foreign assistance to influence Nigeria’s political landscape was inappropriate in a democratic setting. Sani had argued that opposition parties should pursue power through constitutional means within the country rather than engaging foreign governments or lobbying groups.
The back-and-forth has added to the growing political debate surrounding the reported lobbying efforts and renewed public attention on issues relating to President Tinubu’s past U.S. legal records and the broader role of foreign lobbying in Nigerian politics….See More