Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has accused the Presidency of resorting to personal attacks instead of addressing questions about transparency and accountability.
Atiku made the allegation in a statement issued on Thursday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, in response to the Presidency’s recent criticism of him.
According to Atiku, the Presidency failed to address issues of public concern, choosing instead to engage in what he described as political mudslinging.
“When governments abandon facts for insults and substitute evidence with abuse, they unwittingly admit that they have run out of convincing answers. Nigerians expected clarification. What they received instead was a barrage of name-calling and political invective,” he said.
The former vice president argued that raising questions based on publicly available records should not be interpreted as an attack on Nigeria’s sovereignty.
He maintained that the issues under discussion concerned records relating to the occupant of the nation’s highest office and not the country itself.
Atiku also criticised the Presidency for reviving past allegations against him instead of responding directly to the issues raised.
He said elections confer political authority but do not remove the obligation of elected officials to remain accountable to the public.
According to him, public office holders must respond to legitimate public scrutiny with facts rather than inflammatory rhetoric.
He further described it as contradictory for the government to seek foreign investment, loans and international support while condemning international scrutiny whenever it becomes uncomfortable.
Atiku urged the Tinubu administration to provide clear and factual explanations on issues raised by Nigerians instead of relying on personal attacks.
He insisted that Nigerians deserved transparency and answers to questions surrounding allegations that President Bola Tinubu forfeited funds to the United States government over alleged drug-related offences, arguing that such concerns would not disappear through political attacks.
