By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has said that Nigeria cannot build credibility, locally or internationally, by ignoring documented facts or dismissing legitimate questions.
Atiku pointed out that in any constitutional democracy, raising questions based on verifiable records is not opposition, stressing that it is a responsibility, which the ruling APC has clearly departed from.
The former Vice President, who is now a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, said this in reaction to remarks credited to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, suggesting that opposition voices on the OPL 245 matter are driven by self-interest rather than patriotism.
Atiku categorically stated that the issues at stake are too serious for political spin, stressing that OPL 245 is not a mere talking point; as it is one of the most consequential oil assets in Nigeria, long entangled in complex litigation and international scrutiny.
He insisted that the rule of law must remain supreme.
The Attorney-General, Atiku maintained, may do well to address the substantive issues raised in his earlier intervention instead of “this resort to propaganda”.
The erstwhile presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said that
is not only disingenuous but deeply troubling for the Attorney-General to dismiss legitimate concerns, rooted in documented legal processes, as “self-interest.”
He maintained that in any constitutional democracy, raising questions based on verifiable records is not opposition, adding that it is responsibility, which the ruling APC has clearly departed from.
In a statement from his Media office, Atiku said, “Our attention has been drawn to remarks credited to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, suggesting that opposition voices on the OPL 245 matter are driven by self-interest rather than patriotism.
“This assertion is both misleading and an attempt to divert attention from the substantive legal and factual issues surrounding the so-called ‘resolution’ of the OPL 245 dispute.
“For the avoidance of doubt, our position is firmly grounded in publicly available documents, including but not limited to the pre-action notice issued by Malabu Oil and Gas Limited to the relevant authorities, which raises serious legal objections to the purported settlement.
“These documents clearly indicate that key stakeholders have disputed the legitimacy of the claimed resolution, stating unequivocally that they were neither consulted nor involved in any negotiation process, and that multiple suits on the asset remain pending before competent courts.
“It is therefore not only disingenuous but deeply troubling for the Attorney-General to dismiss legitimate concerns—rooted in documented legal processes—as ‘self-interest’.
‘In any constitutional democracy, raising questions based on verifiable records is not opposition—it is responsibility, which the ruling APC has clearly departed from.
“The issues at stake are too serious for political spin. OPL 245 is not a mere talking point; it is one of the most consequential oil assets in Nigeria, long entangled in complex litigation and international scrutiny.
“What Nigerians deserve is transparency, adherence to due process, and respect for ongoing judicial proceedings—not premature declarations of victory or attempts to silence scrutiny with cheap and weak propaganda.
“We wish to state for the record that Atiku Abubakar does not have an interest in OPL 245, has never had an interest in the contentious OPL 245 and will never have an interest in OPL 245.
‘We reiterate that our intervention is guided solely by the public interest and the need to uphold the rule of law.
“No amount of rhetoric can erase the existence of pending legal disputes or invalidate concerns already raised by affected parties through formal legal channels.
“If anything, the Attorney-General’s response underscores the very need for greater openness and accountability on this matter.
“Nigeria cannot build credibility—locally or internationally—by ignoring documented facts or dismissing legitimate questions. The rule of law must remain supreme.
“Meanwhile, the Attorney-General may do well to address the substantive issues raised in our earlier intervention instead of this resort to propaganda”, said.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
