Abuja, Nigeria The Presidency has fired back at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his recent anti-corruption rhetoric, accusing him of hypocrisy and referencing his controversial past while in office.
Atiku, who served as Nigeria’s Vice President from 1999 to 2007, recently pledged to “clean up corruption” if elected president in 2027. The remarks were made during a political forum in Abuja, where he criticized the Bola Tinubu administration for what he described as widespread graft, lack of transparency, and growing public mistrust.
But in a swift and scathing response, the Presidential Spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, described Atiku’s anti-corruption stance as “laughable,” insisting that the former VP lacks the moral standing to lead such a crusade.
“The same man who is preaching against corruption today has multiple questions to answer regarding financial misconduct from his time in office,” Ngelale said. “Nigerians have not forgotten the unresolved allegations surrounding the privatization program and other questionable transactions.”
Ngelale also pointed to reports by past oversight panels and foreign investigative documents that cast shadows on Atiku’s record, particularly during his time overseeing Nigeria’s economic management team.
The Presidency further challenged Atiku to clarify his role in several contentious deals executed under former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration — a government in which he held considerable economic influence.
“This administration is cleaning up the mess created by years of impunity and systemic corruption. For someone so deeply associated with that era to now play the reformist is insulting to the intelligence of Nigerians,” Ngelale added.
Atiku is yet to officially respond to the Presidency’s remarks. However, his media team has previously dismissed such allegations as politically motivated attempts to discredit a credible opposition figure.
The heated exchange is the latest signal of rising political tension ahead of the 2027 general elections, where Atiku and other opposition leaders — including Labour Party’s Peter Obi — are expected to mount a serious challenge to President Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Political analysts note that the tone of this face-off underscores a critical campaign theme: the battle over credibility, integrity, and who can best restore Nigerians’ trust in governance.
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