NEWS
Rep, Agbese Condemns Opposition Campaign Over Tinubu’s Alleged US Documents, Warns of Damage to Nigeria’s Image
The Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Rep. Philip Agbese, has strongly criticised an ongoing campaign by opposition politicians over alleged United States government documents concerning President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, warning that attempts to take Nigeria’s political battles abroad could have far-reaching consequences for ordinary Nigerians.
Agbese made the remarks while speaking to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday evening, where he described the campaign as an effort capable of damaging Nigeria’s collective image and creating problems that could extend well beyond the political interests of those behind it.
The controversy centres on efforts by a Washington-based lobbying firm to draw the attention of officials in the Donald Trump administration and members of the United States Congress to allegations concerning President Tinubu.
Speaking jointly for concerned lawmakers and civil society groups on the matter, Agbese argued that while political actors have the constitutional right to scrutinise, criticise and challenge the government, such disagreements should not be pursued in a manner that could negatively affect Nigerians living, studying, working and doing business outside the country.
He maintained that the repeated circulation of old documents and unproven allegations within foreign political circles could produce consequences for millions of Nigerians who have no direct connection to the political dispute.
According to the lawmaker, the international perception of Nigeria has a direct bearing on the experiences of Nigerians seeking education, employment, business opportunities, investment partnerships and other engagements abroad.
The lawmaker said:
“This has gone beyond politics. When desperate politicians begin to export their political battles and package Nigeria as a country whose leadership is allegedly built around criminality, they are not hurting President Tinubu alone.
“They are damaging the image of every Nigerian who travels, studies, works, does business or seeks opportunities abroad.
Agbese acknowledged that opposition politicians are entitled to challenge the policies and performance of the Tinubu administration, but insisted that there should be limits to how political disagreements are pursued.
He warned against turning foreign governments, institutions and political actors into instruments for resolving domestic political contests, particularly as Nigeria approaches another general election cycle.
He said:
“Political competition is legitimate, but there must be a line that every responsible politician must refuse to cross.
“You cannot spend your time telling the world that your own country is being led by criminals simply because you want to defeat the person in power.
“At some point, you must ask what happens to the Nigerian student seeking admission, the entrepreneur looking for an international partner, the professional applying for a job and the millions of Nigerians whose identity is tied to this country.”
The Benue lawmaker further argued that the Federal Government should not allow what he described as politically motivated efforts to create an international scandal around the President to distract it from governance.
He also appealed to President Trump and members of his administration to carefully examine the credibility, motives and interests of individuals presenting information about Nigeria through political lobbying channels before taking any action based on such submissions.
Agbese said:
“We call on President Trump and his administration to ignore elements whose new responsibility appears to be blackmailing the Federal Government of Nigeria and, by extension, the Nigerian people who are earnestly earning a living abroad.
“America and Nigeria have a relationship that is far bigger than the ambitions of desperate politicians.
“That relationship should be built around security, trade, investment, development and the mutual interests of both countries, not opposition-sponsored campaigns designed to influence Washington against Nigeria.”
The lawmaker also questioned the continued reliance on decades-old documents originating from a civil forfeiture proceeding as part of arguments about Nigeria’s current political leadership.
He said allegations concerning President Tinubu should be evaluated on the basis of appropriate legal and evidentiary standards and should not automatically be presented internationally as established facts simply because they have been repeatedly circulated.
Agbese suggested that the timing and manner in which the documents are being promoted deserve particular scrutiny, especially against the backdrop of preparations for the 2027 presidential election.
He argued that political campaigns should focus primarily on issues Nigerians can assess directly, including governance, economic policies, security, infrastructure, social welfare and the electoral process, rather than efforts to mobilise foreign governments against domestic political opponents.
The lawmaker warned that the consequences of damaging Nigeria’s international reputation would not necessarily stop at the doorsteps of political leaders.
“We must stop treating Nigeria’s international reputation as collateral damage in our political contests. Whoever wins an election will still inherit the same country, and whoever loses will still remain a Nigerian.
“You cannot destroy the country’s reputation today and expect ordinary Nigerians to escape the consequences tomorrow. The damage will show up in business relationships, immigration decisions, investment opportunities and the treatment of our citizens abroad,” he warned.
Agbese said the House of Representatives would continue to defend what he described as Nigeria’s national interest while encouraging political actors to channel their disagreements through the country’s democratic, legal and judicial institutions.
He urged politicians seeking to defeat or challenge the Tinubu administration to concentrate their efforts on policies, governance records and the electoral process, rather than pursuing campaigns that, in his view, could expose Nigeria and its citizens to unnecessary international scrutiny.
His comments add another layer to the growing political dispute surrounding allegations and documents being circulated in the United States as Nigerian political actors increasingly position themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.