‘He gave Na’Abba N5m to impeach me’ | ‘You’re still bitter over third term saga’ — Obasanjo, Atiku in fresh war of words
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has alleged that Atiku Abubakar gave the late Ghali Umar Na’Abba, former speaker of the house of representatives, N5 million to begin impeachment proceedings against him during his first term in office.
Obasanjo made the allegation while responding to comments by Olusegun Osoba, former governor of Ogun, on the political developments that preceded the 2003 general election.
The former president claimed the impeachment plot was initiated from within the presidency after Atiku allegedly held a private meeting with Na’Abba.
He said Atiku had convinced the late speaker that he should serve only one term as president and encouraged him to commence impeachment proceedings.
“Na’Abba’s impeachment began at the presidency by the Vice-President, who on a Friday when I was out of the office, invited Na’Abba to his office and convinced him, as he had convinced himself and some others but of insignificant number, that I should have only one term as President,” Obasanjo said.
“On the Friday, Atiku invited Na’Abba; he gave him ₦5 million to begin his impeachment work. It was all noted, recorded and reported to me by my Chief of Staff, a professional intelligence officer.”
Obasanjo said the alleged meeting and financial transaction were documented and reported to him by his chief of staff, whom he described as a professional intelligence officer.
He added that he was not disturbed by the impeachment threat because he believed there were no constitutional grounds for his removal from office.
‘ALLEGATIONS MEANT TO SHAPE 2027 POLITICS’
Responding in a statement issued on Friday by Phrank Shaibu, his senior special assistant on public communication, Atiku faulted Obasanjo for making the allegation after Na’Abba’s death, saying the late speaker was no longer alive to defend himself.
“As Africans, we understand the solemn duty of speaking truthfully about the dead,” the statement reads.
“It is therefore deeply troubling that former President Obasanjo has chosen this moment to allege that I gave the late Rt. Hon. Ghali Umar Na’Abba a bribe to impeach him.
“If this allegation were true, why did he never make it while Rt. Hon. Na’Abba was alive? Why wait until the only man who could confirm or refute the claim has departed this world?
“By invoking a deceased man as the principal witness to such a grave allegation, former President Obasanjo has denied Nigerians the opportunity of hearing the other side of the story.”
Atiku said the allegation was unfair to Na’Abba’s memory because the former speaker could no longer defend his integrity or respond to claims that he accepted a bribe.
The former vice-president also questioned why no legal action was taken against him if there was evidence to support the allegation.
“If there was indeed evidence of any criminal conduct as alleged, Nigerians are entitled to ask why no action was taken at the time by a government that wielded the full powers of the Nigerian state,” he said.
Atiku said the timing of Obasanjo’s claim suggested an attempt to tarnish his reputation and confer political advantage on the former president’s preferred candidate ahead of the 2027 election.
“Coming at a time when the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general election is taking shape, the obvious objective is to besmirch my person and reputation and confer an undeserved political advantage on the former President’s kinsman,” he said.
“Nigerians, however, know better. They are too discerning to be distracted by stale allegations resurrected for political convenience.”
He noted that Obasanjo’s hostility towards him stemmed from his opposition to the former president’s failed third term bid.
“My offence was that I stood firmly against the unconstitutional third-term agenda. As a democrat, I chose the path of constitutionalism and the rule of law,” he stated.
“Rather than surrender democratic principles on the altar of personal ambition, I defended the Constitution and successfully asserted my rights through the courts in a series of landmark legal victories against a sitting President.
“Those battles are now part of Nigeria’s democratic history. It is evident that the bitterness arising from that defining period has failed to leave former President Obasanjo.”
‘NIGERIANS DESERVE SOLUTIONS, NOT RECYCLED POLITICAL TALES’
Atiku said he would not be distracted by political disputes dating back more than two decades while Nigerians grapple with economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment and rising public debt.
“The task before leaders today is not to rewrite history but to rescue the future. Nigerians are more interested in knowing why food prices continue to soar, why public debt continues to rise despite increased revenues, and why scandal after scandal continues to trail the current administration than in revisiting political disagreements from over two decades ago,” he said.
He added that although Obasanjo was free to support any candidate of his choice ahead of the 2027 election, he should do so openly rather than relying on allegations that could no longer be tested because the principal witness was dead.
“If former President Obasanjo has chosen to take a political position ahead of 2027, he should simply declare it and allow Nigerians to judge it on its merits, rather than attempting to influence public opinion through allegations that can no longer be tested because the principal witness is no longer alive,” he said.
“Our focus remains unwavering: offering credible alternatives, defending democracy, demanding accountability and working with all patriotic Nigerians to restore competent, transparent and people-centred leadership to our country.
“Nigerians deserve solutions to today’s problems, not recycled political tales from yesterday.”
Culled from The Cable
