2027: TMSG tackles Atiku over ‘competing with thieves’ remark
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2027: TMSG tackles Atiku over ‘competing with thieves’ remark
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The Tinubu Media Support Group, TMSG has described as “laughable” the recent claim by former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, that he was competing with “thieves” ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
TMSG, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Emeka Nwankpa, and Secretary, Dapo Okubanjo, accused the former Vice-President of speaking as though Nigerians had forgotten his eight years in office under former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Atiku had recently said in a video shared on his social media platform, “We are competing with thieves. They stole the election. Now they have stolen the economy. They have stolen everything.”
Reacting, TMSG said the statement was an indication that the former Vice-President was prepared to deploy “anything and everything” against President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 election.
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The group said, “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.”
TMSG said Atiku’s political history, including his unsuccessful presidential bids, made his latest criticism of the Tinubu administration unsurprising.
It argued that the former Vice-President’s attempt to portray the present administration as corrupt would not influence Nigerian voters, just as it claimed his campaign against former President Muhammadu Buhari failed in the 2019 election.
The group also cited criticisms of Atiku contained in Obasanjo’s autobiography, My Watch, alleging that the former President had accused his former vice of corruption, disloyalty, lack of transparency and poor judgment.
TMSG said it was not aware that Atiku had successfully challenged the allegations in court, noting that the former Vice-President had maintained that he had never been convicted of corruption.
The group further raised allegations contained in a 2010 United States congressional investigation into foreign corruption.
According to TMSG, the report devoted more than 80 pages to Atiku and alleged that over $40m in “suspect or offshore funds” was channelled into the United States between 2000 and 2008 through bank accounts allegedly controlled by his former wife, Jennifer Douglas-Abubakar.
It also referred to allegations involving payments allegedly made to Jennifer Douglas by Siemens in connection with government contracts.
The group noted that Douglas had denied wrongdoing, while Siemens had separately pleaded guilty to criminal charges and settled civil charges relating to bribery.
TMSG also cited a Nigerian Senate committee report which, according to the group, accused Atiku of involvement in the alleged diversion of $145m belonging to the Petroleum Technology Development Fund and recommended sanctions and prosecution.
The group said the allegations, together with controversies surrounding the privatisation programme during the Obasanjo administration, formed part of what it described as Atiku’s “corruption baggage.”
It further criticised Atiku’s role as Chairman of the National Council on Privatisation, alleging that several public assets were sold at what it described as “ridiculously low prices.”
TMSG said Atiku should not accuse members of the present administration without also being prepared to answer questions concerning his own record in government.
“We are convinced that the former Vice-President has so much baggage bordering on corruption allegations to be sauntering around, accusing others of things he is liable for,” the group said.
