Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has launched a fresh lawsuit against incumbent President Bola Tinubu at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Case No. 23-5099 (N. D. III.) marks a significant escalation in the political clash between these Nigerian political titans.
The revelation comes via Atiku’s aide, Phrank Shaibu, who confirmed that the new legal maneuver prompted Abubakar to withdraw a preceding case from a circuit court in Illinois. In a recent statement, Shaibu clarified that the withdrawal was a strategic decision to avoid an abuse of court processes. “Waziri Atiku Abubakar withdrew the case because he is pursuing the same matter in a higher court,” he said, adding, “This is just the beginning.”
Shaibu expressed bemusement over the jubilation from Tinubu and his supporters regarding the case withdrawal, criticizing their celebration as if they had won a Supreme Court judgment. He further intensified the verbal onslaught, drawing attention to the opacity of President Tinubu’s educational background, from his primary school days through to his university years.
“In recent Senate screenings, ministerial nominees have been called upon to disclose their educational history, revealing former classmates among the Senators themselves. However, President Tinubu, who nominated these individuals, remains an enigma,” said Shaibu. He continued, “Despite the customary tradition of Presidents inviting former classmates to the Presidential Villa, President Tinubu has none to invite, his personal history being a closed book.”
Highlighting this lack of transparency, Shaibu remarked on the peculiarity of a President whose life history seems to commence only in 1993. Even that year is known for a well-documented indictment involving narcotics trading.
Shaibu underscored Atiku’s pursuit of truth and transparency, which, according to him, was being hindered by President Tinubu. “The president’s resistance to shedding light on his past implies something concealed,” he asserted.
Shaibu’s critique ended on a profound note, aiming directly at the President’s supporters, stating, “Their jubilation over their leader’s cover-up is disconcerting.” He confidently expressed his belief in the ultimate triumph of truth, “Falsehood may run for a lifetime, but the truth shall overrun it in an instant,” and concluded by stating, “The moment of truth is here, and President Tinubu has no place to hide.”
The implication of this ongoing legal action extends beyond these two political figures, having potential repercussions on Nigeria’s political scene as well. With the 2023 elections on the horizon, this case is likely to cast a long shadow on the political landscape.
This development underscores the ongoing tensions between Abubakar and Tinubu, further polarizing an already heated political arena. As the court battle proceeds, Nigerians and the world at large will be keenly observing the unfolding narrative and its impact on the country’s political future.
