Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has urged the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to release any records concerning President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that can legally be disclosed, arguing that a blanket claim of “danger to lives” should not be used to shield information from public scrutiny.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said Nigerians were already facing serious threats to their lives and livelihoods, making the FBI’s justification difficult to accept without further explanation.
“The FBI says disclosure could endanger lives. Which lives? Nigerians are already dying.”
Atiku linked the issue to the economic hardship under the Tinubu administration, accusing the government of implementing policies that have worsened living conditions for ordinary Nigerians.
He cited insecurity, hunger, rising medical costs, transportation expenses and the removal of fuel subsidy as examples of the pressures facing citizens.
Atiku reiterated his position that fuel subsidy would be restored under his leadership, saying the policy would be targeted, transparently financed, capped and independently audited to prevent corruption and diversion.
“I will not apologise for choosing the survival of Nigerians over economic dogma,” he said.
Turning to the FBI, Atiku said he was not demanding the disclosure of sensitive information that could compromise investigations.
“Protect your agents. Protect your sources. Protect legitimate investigative methods. Redact whatever American law genuinely requires you to redact.”
He, however, argued that information relevant to legitimate public interest should be released where American law permits disclosure.
According to him, Nigerians have a democratic right to know information about the history and character of anyone occupying the country’s highest political office.
Atiku said his request was not an attempt to involve the United States in Nigeria’s political affairs but a demand for transparency and accountability.
“Nigerians are not asking America to conduct our democracy for us.”
He urged the FBI to distinguish between information that genuinely requires protection and records that could lawfully be disclosed without compromising investigators, sources or legitimate law-enforcement operations.
Atiku concluded by saying: “Protect your investigators. Protect your sources. Protect your methods. But do not protect the truth from Nigerians.”
