Tinubu FBI Report: Reps Deputy Speaker Slams Opposition

Philip Agbese, deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, has criticized opposition leaders’ campaign on alleged US government documents concerning President Bola Tinubu, describing it as an attempt to damage Nigeria’s collective image abroad.

Agbese spoke to reporters in Abuja on Wednesday evening while reacting to recent efforts by a Washington-based lobbying firm to draw the attention of Donald Trump administration officials and members of Congress to allegations regarding Tinubu.

Speaking jointly with lawmakers and concerned civil society groups on the issue, the lawmaker said political disagreements should not be pursued at the expense of the reputation and well-being of Nigerians living, working and doing business outside the country.

According to him, the circulation of old documents and unproven allegations in foreign political circles could create consequences far beyond the targeted people, particularly for Nigerians, whose livelihoods and opportunities depend on how the country is perceived internationally.

“This has gone beyond politics. When desperate politicians start exporting their political battles and present Nigeria as a country whose leadership is supposedly built around criminality, they are not just harming President Tinubu. They are harming the image of every Nigerian who travels, studies, works, does business or seeks opportunities abroad,” Agbese said.

The Labor Party MP said opposition politicians have the right to criticize the administration and challenge its policies, but should not turn foreign governments and institutions into tools for resolving domestic political disputes.

“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 country is run by criminals simply because you want to defeat those in power. At some point, you have to ask yourself what happens to the Nigerian student seeking admission, the entrepreneur seeking an international partner, the professional seeking employment and the millions of Nigerians whose identity is tied to this country,” he said.

Agbese said the federal government should not allow itself to be distracted by what he described as politically motivated attempts to create an international scandal around the president ahead of the 2027 elections.

He urged President Trump and his administration to carefully examine the motives and credibility of people who present themselves as supporters of Nigeria before acting on information provided through political lobbying.

“We call on President Trump and his administration to ignore elements whose new responsibility appears to be to blackmail the federal government of Nigeria and, by extension, the Nigerian people who earn a serious living abroad. America and Nigeria have a relationship that is far greater than the ambitions of desperate politicians. That relationship should be built around the security, trade, investment, development and mutual interests of both countries, not opposition-sponsored campaigns designed to influence Washington against Nigeria,” Agbese said.

The Benue MP said the allegations being circulated about Tinubu should be subjected to appropriate legal and evidentiary standards rather than repeatedly presented as established facts on the international stage.

He also questioned the wisdom of relying on decades-old documents from a civil forfeiture proceeding to define Nigeria’s current political leadership, particularly when the documents were being promoted in the context of an upcoming election.

According to Agbese, Nigerians should be concerned about the broader consequences of political campaigns that paint the country negatively to foreign governments.

“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 manifest itself in trade relationships, immigration decisions, investment opportunities and the treatment of our citizens abroad,” he warned.

Agbese said the House of Representatives will continue to defend Nigeria’s national interests, while encouraging political actors to pursue their disagreements within the country’s democratic and judicial institutions.

He urged politicians seeking to challenge Tinubu’s administration to focus on policies, governance and the electoral process rather than what he described as efforts to mobilize foreign actors against Nigeria.

“Let Nigerians decide their leadership. If anyone believes the president has failed, take that argument to the Nigerian people and let the vote determine that. Let us not outsource our democracy to Washington, London or elsewhere. Nigeria belongs to Nigerians and our political battles must not become a source of difficulty or embarrassment to our people at home and abroad,” Agbese said.