Atiku Abubakar’s Camp Denies Ties with Governor Sanwo-Olu Amid Allegations

The camp of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly denied any association between their principal and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. The response comes amid allegations that funds purportedly linked to Lagos State were funneled to Atiku through Ms. Aisha Achimugu in the build-up to the 2023 presidential election.

In a statement released on Thursday, signed by Atiku’s media aide Paul Ibe, the former Vice President dismissed the allegations as politically motivated propaganda orchestrated by President Bola Tinubu’s allies. The statement clarified that Atiku has never met Governor Sanwo-Olu and described the reports as a smear campaign aimed at damaging his reputation and undermining a growing opposition movement.

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Atiku Abubakar Denounces Allegations as Falsehoods

The statement from Atiku’s media team categorically rejected the claims, labeling them as fabrications designed to discredit him. According to Ibe, the accusations are baseless and serve as a political maneuver to tarnish Atiku’s image and disrupt opposition unity.

“We at Atiku Media Office have taken note of reports in a section of the media that the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, through Ms. Aisha Achimugu, made available to His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, Vice President of Nigeria (1999-2007), money purportedly belonging to Lagos State. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is also credited with investigating the matter,” the statement read.

Atiku’s camp refuted the claim, calling it “a blatant lie from the pit of hell,” and dismissed it as a “contrived political hogwash.” The statement further questioned the logic behind the allegations, emphasizing that Atiku had never had any interactions with Sanwo-Olu, let alone engaged in financial dealings with him.

“How is it possible for an Atiku that does not know and had no connection with Sanwo-Olu to be having a transaction with him involving the exchange of money – let alone during the Presidential election of 2023 in which his boss was a contestant? To what end would that be?” the statement questioned.

Atiku’s team also criticized Tinubu’s allies for resorting to “kindergarten propaganda” to distract Nigerians from more pressing national issues.

Sanwo-Olu’s Political Troubles and Opposition Unity

The statement suggested that Governor Sanwo-Olu’s alleged falling out with key figures within Tinubu’s camp may have played a role in the emergence of these allegations. Atiku’s media team argued that the accusations are not only an attempt to damage Atiku’s reputation but also part of a broader strategy to sideline Sanwo-Olu politically.

“We wish to, therefore, state emphatically and for the record that it is a political hatchet job aimed at providing a much-needed justification to jettison Governor Sanwo-Olu, who appears to have fallen out of favour with the ‘Bourdillon Cult.’”

The statement alleged that the ruling party’s strategy involves two key objectives: first, to remove Sanwo-Olu from power and, second, to weaken the opposition coalition forming under Atiku’s influence. The statement also pointed out inconsistencies in the allegations, questioning why a supposed aide of Sanwo-Olu would publicly discredit his own principal.

“To even underscore how poor the propaganda is, an unnamed Sanwo-Olu’s aide is quoted in the news story trashing his principal and adding fuel to the fire. Pray, who does that?” the statement added.

Atiku’s Camp Challenges EFCC to Conduct Transparent Investigation

In addition to dismissing the allegations, Atiku’s media team called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to carry out a thorough investigation and make its findings public. The statement emphasized the need for transparency, arguing that the Nigerian public deserves to know the truth.

“Since the EFCC has been dragged into the arena of politics and propaganda, we challenge the anti-corruption agency to make public the outcome of its alleged investigation,” the statement read.

Atiku’s camp insisted that both he and other opposition leaders, including Labour Party’s Peter Obi, have the right to access any information regarding the alleged investigation. They urged the agency to resist being used as a political tool and to focus on its primary mandate of fighting corruption without bias.

“Finally, it is not just the President that is entitled to that information but the generality of the Nigerian public, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s Presidential flag bearer in the 2023 election, Peter Obi.”

The statement concluded with a strong condemnation of what it described as a “voyage of misadventure and campaign of calumny” against Atiku, warning that such tactics would not deter the opposition from its political ambitions.

Political Fallout and Future Implications

The allegations and the subsequent rebuttal by Atiku’s team highlight the ongoing political tension in Nigeria. With the 2023 presidential election behind them, political figures continue to engage in strategic positioning ahead of future elections. The rift between Governor Sanwo-Olu and Tinubu’s camp, as hinted in Atiku’s statement, could signal emerging power struggles within the ruling party.

Furthermore, the controversy underscores the role of anti-corruption agencies like the EFCC in Nigeria’s political landscape. Calls for transparency in investigations suggest growing concerns that such institutions may be used as tools for political vendettas rather than impartial enforcers of the law.

As Nigeria navigates its political future, the allegations against Atiku and his firm denial reflect broader themes of political rivalry, power struggles, and the ever-evolving landscape of opposition politics in the country. Whether these claims hold any merit or are indeed a smear campaign remains to be seen, but what is clear is that the battle for political dominance is far from over.