A lawyer and public affairs analyst, Maxwell Opara, has dismissed attempts to internationalise allegations against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, insisting that no foreign government can determine Nigeria’s political future or overturn decisions of its courts.
Speaking in an interview in Arise News monitored by The News chronicle, Opara reacted to reports that a United States law firm engaged by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had submitted documents relating to decades-old allegations against President Tinubu to the U.S. government.
According to him, the firm was reportedly hired by Atiku in March under a 12-month contract valued at $1.2 million to help strengthen the former vice president’s reputation and engagement in the United States.
Opara said the submission reportedly included a court record linked to allegations against Tinubu dating back about 30 years.
He, however, noted that shortly after the documents were reportedly received, U.S. President Donald Trump wrote to President Tinubu, commending his leadership and efforts in tackling insurgency and terrorism in Nigeria.
According to Opara, the development demonstrates that the lobbying effort has not altered Washington’s engagement with the Nigerian president.
The analyst argued that while Atiku has the political influence to galvanise a formidable opposition capable of holding the ruling party accountable, he has failed to do so because of personal political ambition.
He maintained that if the objective of hiring the firm was to secure the removal of President Tinubu from office, such efforts would be unsuccessful because Nigeria is a sovereign nation whose internal affairs cannot be dictated by foreign governments.
Opara stressed that no foreign country has the authority to invalidate the judgment of Nigeria’s Supreme Court or revisit legal matters that were resolved decades ago.
He urged Nigerian political leaders to focus on strengthening democratic institutions at home rather than seeking external intervention.
Opara also advised Atiku to reconsider his presidential ambition and support Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi. In his words, “ It is not the turn of the northerners; it is the turn of the southerners”
