Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has condemned the Nigerian government's attempt to use China's strict drug laws as a benchmark against him, calling it a 'monumental own goal.

' In a statement, Atiku's team accused the presidency of inadvertently exposing President Tinubu to greater scrutiny by comparing him to China's legal system, where drug trafficking can result in the death penalty.

Atiku emphasized that he has never been convicted of any crime, including corruption or drug offenses, and criticized the administration for using China's standards to justify public accountability.

He highlighted the hypocrisy of invoking China's strict anti-drug policies while ignoring the government's own scandals, such as the $460,000 forfeiture linked to alleged drug trafficking.Atiku urged the presidency to focus on addressing Nigeria's economic and social challenges rather than diverting attention with such comparisons.

The article underscores the political tension between Atiku and the Tinubu administration, with Atiku accusing the government of poor communication and selective accountability.The piece also notes the irony of using China's legal framework as a tool for political attack, which ultimately backfires on the presidency.