₦airaland Forum

Former senator Shehu Sani has criticised presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Atiku Abubakar, over the engagement of a United States lobbying firm to circulate documents relating to President Bola Tinubu’s past US forfeiture case, describing the move as unconscionable and unpatriotic.

Sani, in a post on his X handle on Wednesday, argued that involving foreign lobby groups to portray the President and his administration negatively before the US government could damage Nigeria’s international reputation and have adverse consequences for ordinary citizens.

He warned that such actions could escalate global distrust of Nigerians and expose the country to sanctions or visa restrictions.

“Engaging US lobby groups to criminalise the President and his administration and curry favour from the US Government is unconscionable and unpatriotic.

“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.

“Most times, ordinary Nigerians end up paying the price for negative campaigns against the country.

“The opposition should fight and struggle for power within the borders of our country. Seeking for foreign help for regime change in a democratic setting is wrong,” Sani wrote.

His comments followed reports that Washington-based lobbying firm Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., engaged by Atiku, had begun sharing documents relating to a long-running United States forfeiture case involving Tinubu with officials in the Donald Trump administration, members of Congress and congressional staff.

The firm said it was distributing records from the US Department of Justice concerning allegations linked to a 1993 civil forfeiture proceeding involving funds connected to Tinubu.

Atiku reportedly engaged the lobbying firm in March under a 12-month contract valued at $1.2 million to undertake advocacy, diplomatic outreach and present his perspectives on issues concerning Nigeria-US relations.

SlavaUkraini:
Former senator Shehu Sani has criticised presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Atiku Abubakar, over the engagement of a United States lobbying firm to circulate documents relating to President Bola Tinubu’s past US forfeiture case, describing the move as unconscionable and unpatriotic.

Sani, in a post on his X handle on Wednesday, argued that involving foreign lobby groups to portray the President and his administration negatively before the US government could damage Nigeria’s international reputation and have adverse consequences for ordinary citizens.

He warned that such actions could escalate global distrust of Nigerians and expose the country to sanctions or visa restrictions.

“Engaging US lobby groups to criminalise the President and his administration and curry favour from the US Government is unconscionable and unpatriotic.

“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.

“Most times, ordinary Nigerians end up paying the price for negative campaigns against the country.

“The opposition should fight and struggle for power within the borders of our country. Seeking for foreign help for regime change in a democratic setting is wrong,” Sani wrote.

His comments followed reports that Washington-based lobbying firm Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., engaged by Atiku, had begun sharing documents relating to a long-running United States forfeiture case involving Tinubu with officials in the Donald Trump administration, members of Congress and congressional staff.

The firm said it was distributing records from the US Department of Justice concerning allegations linked to a 1993 civil forfeiture proceeding involving funds connected to Tinubu.

Atiku reportedly engaged the lobbying firm in March under a 12-month contract valued at $1.2 million to undertake advocacy, diplomatic outreach and present his perspectives on issues concerning Nigeria-US relations.

https://dailypost.ng/2026/07/22/engaging-us-lobbyists-to-criminalise-tinubu-unconscionable-unpatriotic-shehu-sani-hits-atiku/

SlavaUkraini:
Former senator Shehu Sani has criticised presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Atiku Abubakar, over the engagement of a United States lobbying firm to circulate documents relating to President Bola Tinubu’s past US forfeiture case, describing the move as unconscionable and unpatriotic.

Sani, in a post on his X handle on Wednesday, argued that involving foreign lobby groups to portray the President and his administration negatively before the US government could damage Nigeria’s international reputation and have adverse consequences for ordinary citizens.

He warned that such actions could escalate global distrust of Nigerians and expose the country to sanctions or visa restrictions.

“Engaging US lobby groups to criminalise the President and his administration and curry favour from the US Government is unconscionable and unpatriotic.

“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.

“Most times, ordinary Nigerians end up paying the price for negative campaigns against the country.

“The opposition should fight and struggle for power within the borders of our country. Seeking for foreign help for regime change in a democratic setting is wrong,” Sani wrote.

His comments followed reports that Washington-based lobbying firm Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., engaged by Atiku, had begun sharing documents relating to a long-running United States forfeiture case involving Tinubu with officials in the Donald Trump administration, members of Congress and congressional staff.

The firm said it was distributing records from the US Department of Justice concerning allegations linked to a 1993 civil forfeiture proceeding involving funds connected to Tinubu.

Atiku reportedly engaged the lobbying firm in March under a 12-month contract valued at $1.2 million to undertake advocacy, diplomatic outreach and present his perspectives on issues concerning Nigeria-US relations.

https://dailypost.ng/2026/07/22/engaging-us-lobbyists-to-criminalise-tinubu-unconscionable-unpatriotic-shehu-sani-hits-atiku/

CharlesCNG:
Atiku’s Trump Telegram: When A Weak Candidate Campaigns To Washington Instead Of Nigerians. by CharlesCNG.

Atiku Abubakar’s latest anti-Tinubu manoeuvre is political comedy with diplomatic envelope.

Instead of campaigning to Nigerians, rebuilding structure, selling a clear programme, or testing his popularity at home, Atiku now appears to believe that Washington can do what Nigerian voters have repeatedly refused to do for him: make him president.

Reports say a U.S.-based lobbying firm linked to Atiku’s ADC campaign intensified efforts to circulate Tinubu’s old U.S. records to officials in the Trump administration and Congress. Almost immediately, the Presidency released Trump’s July 6 letter praising Tinubu’s “decisive leadership” and pledging continued U.S.-Nigeria security cooperation. Reuters also reported that Trump commended Tinubu’s actions against violence and signalled warmer Abuja-Washington ties.

So what exactly is Atiku’s 2027 strategy? Not mass mobilisation. Not governor recruitment. Not ADC structure. Not even Adamawa dominance. His own home-state machinery has largely shifted toward APC, while the powerful PDP structure he carried in 2023 has scattered.

The recent electoral tests are even more embarrassing. In the 2026 FCT area council polls, APC won five of six councils, while ADC only appeared as distant runner-up in AMAC and Bwari. In Ekiti, APC’s Oyebanji won with 319,224 votes, PDP had 40,543, and ADC managed 12,872. In Ondo South’s senatorial by-election, APC won with 68,474 votes while ADC was not even among the listed leading contenders.

And Atiku wants Trump to rescue this?

That is not campaign strategy. That is Embassy-Gate Opposition — a man who cannot convince governors trying to convince foreigners.

The funniest part is Atiku thinking an American president does not already have access to U.S. records. The U.S. Senate once reported that Jennifer Douglas, Atiku’s fourth wife, helped move over $40 million in suspect funds into the United States. Obasanjo also repeatedly accused Atiku of corruption before later endorsing him after claiming he had forgiven him.

So before Atiku carries files to Washington, he should remember: America has files too.

If Atiku wants to be president of Nigeria, let him campaign to Nigerians, build party structure, win governors, win by-elections, and present a serious alternative.

Trump will not disqualify Tinubu and install Atiku from the Oval Office.

Nigeria is not a U.S. embassy appointment.

HacheNoire:
Atiku himself has question to answer in the US

His Excellency, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) faced his case and got forfeiture WITHOUT conviction.

Atiku fled!

Naustine:
Was atiku living in the US at any point in his life? Just asking for learning purposes though

shox:
Other party still Dey learn work for where apc Dey in propaganda

Na here we Dey when dem force Obama wife carry placard

anonimi:
What group of politicians is more wicked than A-looter Propaganda Conmen, APC


https://x.com/BusinessDayNg/status/1554497253158658049


How we brought In Fulani militias from Mali, Sierra Leone, Senegal, others to win 2015 election — Kawu Baraje - mailchi.mp/businessday.ng…

Aug 2, 2022

MEGAWATCH:
Out of over 200 million people in your country, you only choosed a man with criminal records, what do you expect other countries to see in you?


Since na criminal una see to lead you, all of you are all CRIMINALS.


Very simple.


🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

MEGAWATCH:
Out of over 200 million people in your country, you only choosed a man with criminal records, what do you expect other countries to see in you?


Since na criminal una see to lead you, all of you are all CRIMINALS.


Very simple.


🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

CharlesCNG:
Atiku has moved from ballot-box politics to inbox politics — emailing Washington because Nigerians keep returning his ambition undelivered.

MEGAWATCH:
Out of over 200 million people in your country, you only choosed a man with criminal records, what do you expect other countries to see in you?


Since na criminal una see to lead you, all of you are all CRIMINALS.


Very simple.


🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

He said, “This man (Atiku) cannot honour agreement. It is actually an indictment on Atiku because in 2019, he authorised me to write that book and I spent over N40 million publishing Nigeria’s almost best package in Dubai. He has even mentioned May 29, 2020, after many failed promises as the day for the launching of that book and it never happened and we didn’t speak about it for two years.

“But as I explained to Nigerians, it is not rocket science, this man (Atiku) has 31 biological children, 30 of them are adults. All of those adults want to become multi-billionaires. It will put too much of strain on the resources of this country whether you like it or not, just get this fact and this is not what we can afford this time in the life of Nigeria.”

HacheNoire:
He was living in the US but was wanted for bribery. He never showed up cos the hard evidences were waiting for him.