The Presidency has described African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar as “Diverter-in-Chief,” accusing the former Vice President of avoiding questions surrounding a $500,000 payment examined in proceedings over the controversial Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project.
The statement was issued on Friday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, following Atiku’s press conference in Abuja.
The Presidency accused Atiku of avoiding questions relating to the Mambilla project and alleged that he and former Minister of Power, Olu Agunloye, were involved in the award of the project to Sunrise Power without the required authorisation from the Federal Executive Council and former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
It further alleged that a $500,000 payment made by Sunrise Power promoter Leno Adesanya to Atiku’s former wife, Jennifer Douglas, was connected to the project.
The payment, made in January 2003, was examined by an International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) arbitration tribunal in Paris as part of the dispute between Sunrise Power and the Federal Government. However, Atiku has rejected allegations that he received a bribe or influenced the award of the contract, while reporting on the tribunal’s final award indicates that it did not make a finding that Atiku received a bribe.
Onanuga criticised Atiku for focusing his press conference on issues including petrol subsidies and the Tinubu administration rather than addressing the allegations surrounding the Mambilla project.
“A man who cares about his integrity and wants to offer himself for leadership ought to address the integrity issue first,” the Presidency said.
The Presidency also accused Atiku of making claims about the government’s plans for electricity subsidies, saying the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, had already rejected the allegation.
It further highlighted the financial stakes involved in the Mambilla arbitration, noting that Sunrise Power had pursued claims worth about $3.38 billion against Nigeria. The ICC tribunal ultimately rejected those claims and ordered Sunrise and its promoter to reimburse Nigeria for a substantial portion of its legal costs.
The Presidency urged Atiku to directly address questions surrounding the $500,000 payment instead of, in its words, diverting public attention to allegations against the government.
The development followed Atiku’s press conference in Abuja on Friday, where he spoke on fuel prices, subsidy policy and other issues concerning the Tinubu administration.
