IBB Comments on Atiku’s Presidential Ambition, Sends Message to Obasanjo

Donald Duke, a former governor of Cross River State, has told how former military head of state Ibrahim Babangida (IBB) secretly warned former President Olusegun Obasanjo not to trust his deputy at the time, Atiku Abubakar.

Duke’s account was reported to be contained in a new book by Seun Oloketuyi, ‘How to Win Elections in Nigeria’, which looks at political developments and intrigues surrounding the early years of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.

Duke, who ruled Cross River between 1999 and 2007, told of a tense encounter involving Babangida, former military head of state Abdulsalami Abubakar, Obasanjo and Atiku at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

“Obasanjo and Atiku’s relationship had deteriorated a lot as Obasanjo was preparing to run for a second term,” Duke said.

He said Atiku’s political activities had raised questions about whether the then Vice-President was still committed to Obasanjo’s re-election.

The difference eventually turned to a major issue in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with some party leaders looking for alternatives to Atiku for the vice-presidential position.

Duke said that he and nine other governors held talks with the then National Chairman of the PDP, Solomon Lar, on possible replacement for the Vice-President.

It was a development that Obasanjo was very concerned about, he said. Duke said the President called him late at nite to complain of his deputy’s betrayal.

Duke remembered, “I begged him to stay calm and told him I would fly to Abuja the next morning.”

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The situation later led to a strange meeting at the Presidential Villa, Duke said, after Atiku allegedly arranged for Babangida and Abdulsalami to meet with Obasanjo.

Babangida reminded Obasanjo during the meeting of political understandings reached after the former president’s release from prison.

He also reportedly told Obasanjo that it would be difficult to secure the backing of influential northern politicians for his second-term bid.

Duke said Obasanjo asked if the position was final or if there was still a possibility for negotiations.

Discussions could still go on, Babangida said, the former governor added.

The most significant part of the encounter took place after the formal meeting seemed to be over, Duke said.

He said Babangida told him he had forgotten his keys in Obasanjo’s private study and asked the former President to follow him back inside.

When the two men were alone, Duke said Babangida dropped the diplomatic tone of the earlier discussion and gave Obasanjo a direct warning about Atiku.

Babangida reportedly told Obasanjo, “I told you not to trust that your deputy.”

Duke further recounted that upon their return to the others, Babangida looked at Atiku and turned to Obasanjo and purportedly said, “This one cannot rule Nigeria.”

The incident demonstrated the depth of mistrust between Obasanjo and Atiku and how their political differences had become a topic of discussion among influential figures, Duke said.

Looking back at the episode, Duke said it reinforced a big lesson he learned from his years in political office.

“Betrayal is a very crazy thing in politics,” he said.