House of Reps deputy spokesman warns opposition against damaging Nigeria’s image following push for release of historical US law enforcement records relating to President Tinubu

Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, has urged United States President Donald Trump and his administration to disregard what he described as politically motivated lobbying over historical US law enforcement records relating to President Bola Tinubu.

Agbese also warned opposition politicians against damaging Nigeria’s international reputation in their efforts to gain political advantage ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Benue lawmaker spoke to journalists in Abuja on Thursday, September 3, while reacting to recent lobbying activities in Washington aimed at drawing the attention of officials in the Trump administration and members of the US Congress to allegations concerning Tinubu. Agbese argued that political disagreements should not be pursued in ways that could harm Nigeria’s reputation or negatively affect citizens living, working, studying and doing business abroad.

“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,” he said.

“They are damaging the image of every Nigerian who travels, studies, works, does business or seeks opportunities abroad.” Agbese urged Trump and his administration to scrutinise the motives and credibility of individuals and organisations presenting themselves as advocates for 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 blackmailing the Federal Government of Nigeria and, by extension, the Nigerian people who are earnestly earning a living abroad,” he said.

“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.”

Agbese said opposition politicians had the right to criticise the Federal Government and challenge the policies of the Tinubu administration but maintained that foreign governments and institutions should not be drawn into domestic political disputes.

He also urged the Federal Government not to become distracted by what he characterised as politically motivated efforts to generate international controversy around the President as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 elections.

“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,” Agbese said.

“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 lawmaker also questioned the use of decades-old documents arising from a civil forfeiture proceeding to characterise Nigeria’s current political leadership, particularly as the records are being discussed ahead of the 2027 elections.

Agbese said Nigerians should consider what he described as the wider consequences of political campaigns that portray the country negatively before foreign governments and international institutions. “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 remain a Nigerian,” he said.

“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.” Agbese said the House of Representatives would continue to defend Nigeria’s national interests while encouraging political actors to resolve their disagreements through the country’s democratic and judicial institutions.

His comments came about 48 hours after the Presidency dismissed reports and lobbying activities surrounding calls for the release of historical United States law enforcement records relating to Tinubu, describing the campaign as politically motivated.

The Presidency had also criticised a Washington-based lobbying firm reportedly engaged by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in connection with efforts to secure the release of the records, alleging that the initiative was intended to generate political controversy ahead of the 2027 general elections. Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, outlined the Presidency’s position in a statement on Tuesday titled, “Speculation as Classified Information: Atiku’s $1.2 million Lobbying Gamble Exposed.”

Dare accused Washington-based firm Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., of presenting political claims as intelligence reports and attempting to create the impression that its statements represented the position of the United States government.