Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has denied receiving any financial donation from Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu or any donation he facilitated towards his presidential bid in 2023.
The Atiku Media Office vehemently denied these claims, labelling them a “blatant lie” and a “contrived political hogwash” aimed at discrediting the opposition and destabilising Governor Sanwo-Olu.
The allegations, which surfaced a few days ago, claimed that Aisha Achimugu acted as an intermediary, channelling Lagos State funds to Atiku Abubakar.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was also reported to be investigating the matter.
In a strongly worded press release signed by Paul Ibe, the Atiku Media Office categorically refuted the accusations, stating that Atiku Abubakar has never met nor knows Governor Sanwo-Olu.
“This piece of kindergarten propaganda is beneath the camp of Tinubu,” the statement declared, implying that the allegations are politically motivated and orchestrated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s allies.
The media office further suggested that the allegations are part of a broader strategy to remove Governor Sanwo-Olu, who is perceived to have fallen out of favour with the “Bourdillon Cult,” a term used to describe a powerful political faction allegedly operating from Bourdillon Road in Lagos, a well-known location of President Tinubu’s residence.
They alleged that the intention is to damage Sanwo-Olu’s reputation and replace him with a more compliant figure.
“Indeed, their strategy is two-fold: get rid of Sanwo-Olu and discredit the coalition being put together by the opposition political leaders, of which Atiku Abubakar is a key stakeholder,” the statement read.
The Atiku Media Office also questioned the credibility of the sources cited in the media reports, particularly an “unnamed Sanwo-Olu’s aide” who allegedly provided incriminating information.
“Pray, who does that?” the statement questioned, suggesting that the source is dubious and the information unreliable.
The statement then directly challenged the EFCC to publicly release the findings of its alleged investigation.
“Since the EFCC has been dragged into the arena of politics and propaganda, we challenge the anti-corruption agency to make public the outcome of its alleged investigation,” it demanded.
The media office emphasised that the public, including Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, have a right to know the truth.
The press release concluded with a strong demand for an immediate cessation of the “voyage of misadventure and campaign of calumny” against Atiku Abubakar.
Full Statement below
PRESS RELEASE
Halt this @officialABAT’s Voyage of Misadventure and Campaign of Calumny Against @atiku
We at Atiku Media Office have taken note of reports in a section of the media that the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu @jidesanwoolu, through Ms Aisha Achimugu, made available to His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, Vice President of Nigeria, 1999-2007, money purportedly belonging to Lagos State. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is also credited with investigating the matter.
Let it be known that this is a blatant lie from the pit of hell, a contrived political hogwash, and a futile campaign of calumny aimed at advancing the political interests of President Bola A. Tinubu.
It may interest Nigerians to note that the Waziri of Adamawa does not know Gov. Sanwo-Olu and indeed has never met him before.
This piece of kindergarten propaganda is beneath the camp of Tinubu. How is it possible for an Atiku that does not know and has no connection with Sanwo-Olu to be having a transaction with him involving the exchange of money, let alone during the presidential election of 2023 in which his boss was a contestant? To what end would that be?
We wish to, therefore, state emphatically and for the record that it is a political hatchet job aimed at providing a much-needed justification to jettison Governor Sanwo-Olu, who appears to have fallen out of favour with the “Bourdillon Cult.”
Indeed, their strategy is two-fold: get rid of Sanwo-Olu and discredit the coalition being put together by the opposition political leaders, of which Atiku Abubakar is a key stakeholder.
To even underscore how poor the propaganda is, an unnamed Sanwo-Olu’s aide is quoted in the news story trashing his principal and adding fuel to the fire. Pray, who does that?
Since the EFCC has been dragged into the arena of politics and propaganda, we challenge the anti-corruption agency to make public the outcome of its alleged investigation.
It is not just the President that is entitled to that information, but the generality of the Nigerian public, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Labour Party’s presidential flag bearer in the 2023 election, Peter Obi.
This voyage of misadventure and campaign of calumny against the person and reputation of Atiku Abubakar must be halted immediately and with alacrity, too.
Signed:
Paul Ibe
Atiku Media Office
Abuja
27 March, 2025.
Atiku Denies Receiving Financial Donation From Sanwo-Olu For 2023 Election is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
Source: The Whistler
