It’s not about lobbyist, documents, records are main issues – Atiku tells Presidency
Atiku Abubakar’s camp has responded to criticism from the Presidency regarding the involvement of a U.S.-based lobbyist associated with the former vice president. Phrank Shaibu, Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, stated that the government is diverting attention from critical issues by focusing on lobbyist Karl Von Batten’s background.
Shaibu’s comments came in light of remarks from President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, who expressed concerns about Atiku’s relationship with Von Batten.
According to Shaibu, the core of the dispute lies not with Von Batten but with existing documents in the United States, particularly a civil forfeiture case linked to President Tinubu involving $460,000 in an account under his name. He clarified that while the forfeiture does not equate to a criminal conviction, it does not negate the existence of court records.
“The documents are there,” Shaibu emphasized.
The Atiku camp also defended the former vice president’s $1.2 million lobbying contract in the U.S. Shaibu noted that Atiku’s engagement with Von Batten-Montague-York is registered with the U.S. Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), ensuring public disclosure of the arrangement and payments.
Shaibu further questioned the Tinubu administration’s own lobbying expenditures in Washington. He cited the administration’s contract with DCI Group, reportedly valued at $750,000 per month over six months, potentially totaling approximately $9 million due to additional provisions in the agreement.
He criticized the double standard regarding lobbying efforts, suggesting that if Atiku’s $1.2 million contract signifies desperation, the Tinubu administration’s arrangement should be viewed similarly.
“The question is, if Atiku’s arrangement is evidence of desperation, how should Nigerians interpret Tinubu’s contract of up to $9 million?” Shaibu remarked, alleging that the Presidency is using Von Batten’s personal background to sidestep substantive discussions regarding the documents.
Shaibu urged the Tinubu administration to concentrate on pressing issues affecting Nigerians, including rising food prices, transportation costs, electricity rates, declining purchasing power, and insecurity, rather than engaging in political disputes with the opposition.
He challenged the government to justify its lobbying expenses before criticizing similar actions taken by the opposition.
