Duke recounts how IBB warned Obasanjo against Atiku

FORMER Cross River State governor Donald Duke has recounted an encounter in which former military ruler Ibrahim Babangida allegedly cautioned ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo about his then vice-president, Atiku Abubakar.

Duke’s account appears in Seun Oloketuyi’s new book, ‘How to Win Elections in Nigeria,’ which examines political manoeuvring surrounding the early years of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.

Duke, who governed Cross River State between 1999 and 2007, described an informal gathering at the Presidential Villa involving Babangida, former military head of state Abdulsalami Abubakar, Obasanjo and Atiku.

According to him, the meeting took place against the backdrop of growing friction between Obasanjo and Atiku as the president prepared for his re-election bid in 2003.

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Duke said Atiku’s political activities had raised concerns within the administration over his commitment to Obasanjo’s second-term campaign, with the dispute eventually becoming a major issue within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He recalled that 10 governors, including himself, later met with then PDP National Chairman, Solomon Lar, to consider possible replacements for Atiku as Obasanjo’s running mate.

Duke said the development deeply unsettled Obasanjo, who subsequently called him late at night to complain about what he considered disloyalty from his deputy.

“I urged him to remain calm and promised to fly to Abuja the next morning,” Duke recalled.

He said the subsequent meeting at the Presidential Villa was arranged by Atiku and brought Babangida and Abdulsalami together with Obasanjo.

IBB’s private warning

Duke said Babangida reminded Obasanjo during the meeting of agreements reached after the former president’s release from prison. He also warned that securing the backing of northern political leaders for Obasanjo’s re-election would not be easy.

Obasanjo reportedly asked whether the position presented by the former military rulers was final or whether negotiations were still possible.

According to Duke, Babangida indicated that discussions could continue.

However, the former Cross River governor said the most significant exchange occurred after the formal meeting appeared to have ended.

He recalled that while leaving Obasanjo’s private study, Babangida claimed he had forgotten his keys and asked the former president to accompany him back into the room.

Duke said Babangida then spoke to Obasanjo privately and abandoned the diplomatic tone of the earlier discussion.

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

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Duke said that when the two men returned to the others, Babangida looked at Atiku before turning to Obasanjo and allegedly declared: “This one cannot rule Nigeria.”

For Duke, the incident illustrated the depth of mistrust between Obasanjo and Atiku and the extent to which their political differences had become a subject of private discussions among influential political figures.

He said the experience also shaped his understanding of Nigerian politics, particularly his conclusion that “betrayal is a very crazy thing in politics.”

Obasanjo, Atiku renew political dispute

Obasanjo and Atiku have maintained a strained relationship since their time as president and vice-president, with both men repeatedly accusing each other of political misconduct, abuse of office and betrayal.

Their longstanding dispute resurfaced on July 24 when Obasanjo alleged that Atiku gave N5 million to the late former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba, to initiate impeachment proceedings against him during his first term.

Obasanjo made the allegation while reacting to remarks by former Ogun State governor Olusegun Osoba concerning political developments ahead of the 2003 presidential election.

The former president again criticised his decision to select Atiku as his running mate during a fireside conversation with activist Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, in Lagos on August 1.

Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, rejected the allegations and accused Obasanjo of fabricating claims against him to advance the interests of his kinsman ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

He also said Obasanjo’s position was rooted in bitterness over his opposition to the former president’s controversial third-term bid while they were in office, adding that he had no regrets about his actions.