The All Progressives Congress (APC) has shrugged off opposition figures and critics eagerly awaiting the release of U.S. files on President Bola Tinubu, branding them as attention-seeking “clowns.”
This comes after a U.S. court ordered the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to release records linked to a 1990s drug investigation involving Tinubu. The court noted that these documents have been publicly accessible for decades and are unlikely to pose any new threat to the President’s reputation.
The ruling by Judge Beryl Howell followed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests submitted by U.S. researcher Aaron Greenspan, who sought information connected to an alleged drug trafficking ring involving Tinubu and three others.
Despite online speculation and political commentary, the Presidency remains confident there will be no surprises. Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said government lawyers are examining the court’s directive, but suggested the content of the documents may be underwhelming.
Previously, the FBI and DEA refused to confirm or deny the existence of the files—a stance the court rejected—ordering them to release any non-exempt materials.
While the report’s release, expected Friday, has sparked heated debate, opposition leaders have voiced varying views. Atiku Abubakar’s spokesperson, Paul Ibe, said Nigerians deserve clarity on a matter first raised in 1999 by the late Gani Fawehinmi. The NNPP urged Nigerians not to jump to conclusions, while the PDP’s Timothy Osadolor warned that the files might expose damaging truths about Tinubu’s past.
Osadolor argued that any incriminating findings could disqualify Tinubu from holding office and urged Nigerian institutions to respond appropriately if necessary.
Meanwhile, APC’s National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, dismissed the uproar as political theatrics. He emphasized that only Nigerian law determines presidential eligibility and dismissed the opposition’s expectations as a sign of “post-election trauma.”
“They’re comedians needing therapy,” he said. “If they want power, they should prepare for 2027—not chase foreign records hoping to remove a sitting President.”
blogpay
Total Comments: 0