The Tinubu Media Support Group (TMSG) has described as “utterly laughable” recent comments by former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, that he was “competing with thieves.”
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Emeka Nwankpa, and Secretary, Dapo Okubanjo, the group said Atiku was in no position to accuse members of the current administration of corruption, alleging that Nigerians had not forgotten his record in government.
TMSG said Atiku’s comments were not unexpected, given what it described as his determination to secure the presidency in the 2027 election, which it called his sixth attempt.
“It is indeed utterly laughable that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar could unabashedly call anyone in government names after what Nigerians know about his time in office as former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s deputy,” the group said.
It accused the former Vice President of making desperate attacks against President Bola Tinubu, similar to what it said he did against former President Muhammadu Buhari ahead of the 2019 election.
“What is clear is that the perennial presidential candidate, under the weight of desperation, is fully out and prepared to throw just anything and everything at President Bola Tinubu,” TMSG said, adding that the strategy failed against Buhari in 2019 and would not work in 2027.
The group further cited criticisms contained in former President Obasanjo’s memoir, My Watch, concerning Atiku’s conduct while serving as Vice President, including allegations relating to corruption, disloyalty, poor judgment and lack of transparency.
TMSG noted that Atiku had not, to its knowledge, successfully challenged the allegations through a defamation suit, stressing that he had instead maintained that he had never been convicted of corruption.
The group also referenced a 2010 United States congressional report on keeping foreign corruption out of the country, which it said devoted more than 80 pages to Atiku and allegations involving offshore funds allegedly channelled into the United States through accounts linked to his former wife, Jennifer Douglas Abubakar.
TMSG further cited allegations by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission concerning payments allegedly received by Jennifer from Siemens in connection with government contracts, while noting that she denied wrongdoing and that Siemens had pleaded guilty to criminal charges and settled related civil charges.
The group also recalled a Nigerian Senate committee report which it said accused Atiku of diverting $145 million belonging to the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) and recommended sanctions and prosecution.
It additionally criticised the privatisation programme overseen by Atiku as Chairman of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP), alleging that public assets were sold at “ridiculously low prices,” with former employees allegedly suffering the consequences.
TMSG concluded that Atiku had “so much baggage bordering on corruption allegations” to be accusing others of wrongdoing.
The group’s allegations, however, are political claims and references to past investigations or allegations do not by themselves establish criminal guilt.
