Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has responded to the Presidency’s comparison with China, arguing that the analogy raises more questions about President Bola Tinubu than it does about him.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the Presidency’s attempt to use China’s strict legal system against him had backfired.
According to him, anyone using China as a benchmark for accountability should be prepared to apply the same standard to everyone, including the President.
“It takes a peculiar kind of unintelligence for a spokesman to set out to drag an opponent before a hypothetical Chinese court, only to end up dragging his own principal into the dock,” the statement read.
Atiku maintained that he has never been indicted or convicted by any court in Nigeria or elsewhere for corruption, drug-related offences or any other crime.
He argued that this remains a matter of public record.
The former vice president also referred to the $460,000 civil forfeiture linked to President Tinubu in the United States, alleging that if China’s strict anti-drug laws were being used as a standard, such a case would likely attract further investigation rather than be considered closed.
Atiku further accused the current administration of falling short of the accountability standards it seeks to promote.
He cited what he described as alleged budget padding, unresolved allegations involving a senior presidential aide over the reported creation of a fake government agency, and the growing economic hardship being experienced by many Nigerians.
He also criticised the Presidency’s communication strategy, saying presidential aides should focus on protecting their principal from political mistakes instead of creating new controversies.
In addition, Atiku dismissed the Presidency’s previous reliance on a response from the United States Government to diplomatic correspondence, insisting it was merely a routine exchange between governments and not a judicial ruling or legal clearance.
The ADC presidential candidate concluded that accountability cannot be applied selectively, arguing that once international standards are invoked, they must be used fairly and consistently.
