By Emeka Blast 
Atiku Mocks Tinubu After Trump Omits Nigeria from African Invitation List
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has sharply criticized President Bola Tinubu, calling Nigeria’s exclusion from a U.S.-Africa summit hosted by President Donald Trump a “scathing verdict” on Tinubu’s leadership. The summit, scheduled for July 9, 2025, at the White House, will see Trump host leaders from Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal to discuss commercial opportunities, with Nigeria conspicuously absent, according to a Reuters report.
In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described the snub as “not a diplomatic oversight” but a “staggering” reflection of Nigeria’s diminished global standing under Tinubu’s presidency. “This is a verdict on Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s chaotic presidency, his divisive chairmanship of ECOWAS, and the complete evaporation of Nigeria’s diplomatic relevance,” Shaibu quoted Atiku as saying. He highlighted Nigeria’s former status as Africa’s most populous nation with a $500 billion economy and one of the world’s fastest-growing economies before the All Progressives Congress (APC) took power.
Atiku pointed to Tinubu’s tenure as ECOWAS chair, accusing him of fracturing regional cooperation. “Tinubu inherited an ECOWAS of 15 member states and left it gasping for breath with three countries pulling out and 40% of its land mass gone,” he said, referencing the withdrawal of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso in 2024 amid disputes over sanctions. He also dismissed claims that Tinubu ally Gilbert Chagoury, a major donor to the Clinton Foundation, held influence with Trump, calling it a “mirage” that collapsed under reality.
The exclusion comes amid Nigeria’s economic struggles, with foreign direct investment at historic lows and the naira plummeting to ₦1,580 against the dollar. Atiku contrasted Nigeria’s sidelining with South Africa’s active trade negotiations with Washington, stating, “From Giant of Africa to diplomatic ghost, Tinubu has finished the job. He has squandered our legacy, diluted our stature, and silenced our voice on the world stage.” Posts on X echoed this sentiment, with @TrueVine9ja noting, “Atiku berates Tinubu as Trump ignores Nigeria,” and @thehbreport calling it a “damning indictment” of Tinubu’s leadership.
Tinubu, currently on a diplomatic tour in Saint Lucia and set to attend the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro on July 6-7 as a partner country, has faced domestic criticism for his administration’s handling of inflation and insecurity. A White House official emphasized that Trump’s summit aims to foster “incredible commercial opportunities” for both American and African partners, aligning with his “America First” policy that has slashed foreign aid to Africa. Despite a meeting in April 2025 between Tinubu and Trump’s Senior Advisor for Africa, Massad Boulos, focusing on economic and security partnerships, Nigeria’s absence from the summit underscores strained U.S.-Nigeria relations.
Atiku, who recently joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC) alongside Peter Obi and other opposition figures to challenge Tinubu in 2027, vowed that the opposition would not “mourn in silence.” He declared, “We are glad that the coalition through the ADC is here to rescue Nigeria from these urban bandits. The damage is deep—but so is our resolve.” The APC has yet to respond officially, but Tinubu’s communications adviser, Daniel Bwala, previously dismissed the ADC coalition as an “informal gathering” lacking the structure to challenge the ruling party.
The snub has sparked debate about Nigeria’s foreign policy under Tinubu, with analysts like Ben Kenneth telling the BBC that a united Atiku-Obi front could pose a significant challenge in 2027, while others, like Sani Hamisu, argue Tinubu’s incumbency gives him an edge. As Nigeria grapples with its fading diplomatic clout, the opposition’s rhetoric signals a heated political battle ahead.
