Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has alleged that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar provided financial support for an impeachment plot against him during his administration, claiming the move was backed with N5 million.
Obasanjo made the allegation while reflecting on events that occurred during his tenure as Nigeria’s president, accusing Atiku, who served as his deputy between 1999 and 2007, of being linked to efforts aimed at removing him from office.
According to the former president, the alleged plot was politically motivated and involved financial backing to mobilise support for his removal. He, however, did not provide further details on the identities of those allegedly involved in the scheme.
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 claimed.
According to him, financial support was provided to facilitate the process, adding that Atiku gave Na’Abba N5 million to start his impeachment work.
Atiku invited Na’Abba; he gave him N5 million to begin his impeachment work. It was all noted, recorded and reported to me by my Chief of Staff, a professional intelligence officer,” he added.
Obasanjo said everything was all noted, recorded and reported to him by his Chief of Staff, he described as a professional intelligence officer.
The claim adds another chapter to the long-standing political differences between the two former leaders, whose relationship deteriorated during the final years of the Obasanjo administration.
Atiku has yet to publicly respond to the allegation at the time of filing this report.
The development is expected to renew discussions around the political tensions that characterised the 1999–2007 administration, particularly the disputes that emerged between the presidency and the vice presidency.
