Former Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani has criticised the opposition’s reported decision to hire a United States lobbying firm to circulate documents relating to President Bola Tinubu’s alleged drug trafficking records, warning that the move could tarnish Nigeria’s international reputation and strain diplomatic ties.
The controversy followed reports that Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., a Washington-based lobbying firm retained by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, had begun distributing United States Department of Justice (DOJ) records concerning allegations linked to Tinubu to officials in the administration of US President Donald Trump, members of Congress, and senior congressional aides.
Reacting in a post on his X account on Wednesday, Sani described the move as unpatriotic, arguing that seeking foreign intervention against Nigeria’s sitting President could have unintended consequences for the country.
According to him, engaging foreign lobbyists to influence another country’s government against Nigeria’s leadership could damage the nation’s image and diplomatic standing.
“Engaging US lobby groups to criminalise the President and his administration and curry favour from the US Government is unconscionable and unpatriotic,” Sani wrote.
He added that while the lobbying effort might not achieve its intended objective, it could expose Nigeria to international criticism and possible sanctions.
“It may not achieve its objectives but will undoubtedly damage the international reputation of the country, escalate global repudiation against our citizens and lead us into the traps of sanctions and visa restrictions,” he stated.
Sani further argued that political opposition should pursue power through democratic means within Nigeria rather than seeking external influence.
“The opposition should fight and struggle for power within the borders of our country. Seeking foreign help for regime change in a democratic setting is wrong,” he said.
However, Atiku Abubakar’s media aide, Paul Ibe, defended the engagement of the lobbying firm, insisting that hiring lobbyists is a legitimate practice, particularly under what he described as an authoritarian government.
Responding via X, Ibe said there was nothing improper about employing lobbyists to engage policymakers in the United States.
“There’s nothing wrong with hiring a lobbyist, especially when you are confronted with a dictatorship,” he wrote.
Ibe also alleged that the Tinubu administration had previously spent public funds on lobbying activities in the United States.
“Recall that six months ago, Tinubu splurged $9 million of Nigeria’s hard-earned money on a US lobby firm,” he claimed.
According to Ibe, the key issue remains President Tinubu’s previous forfeiture of $460,000 to US authorities over allegations linked to drug trafficking, arguing that Nigerians deserve access to all records relating to the matter.
“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,” he stated.
The exchange is the latest in the ongoing political dispute over long-standing US records relating to President Tinubu, an issue that has resurfaced as political parties position themselves ahead of the 2027 general election.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Presidency nor the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had issued an official response to the latest exchange.