Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has disclosed his confrontations with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar during their time in former President Olusegun Obasanjo's cabinet. In an article titled "The Seventh Bid of Waziri," Fani-Kayode recalled how he demanded apologies from Atiku for undermining and destabilizing the government. He claimed Atiku betrayed Obasanjo, prompting Fani-Kayode to ask him to leave cabinet meetings on two separate occasions.
Fani-Kayode stated that during the cabinet meetings, he confronted Atiku over his actions, which led to pin-drop silence in the cabinet chambers. The first time, Obasanjo intervened and appealed to Fani-Kayode and other ministers to allow Atiku to stay. However, during the second confrontation, Fani-Kayode insisted that Atiku should apologize to the entire cabinet for his treachery. Obasanjo again intervened, compelling Atiku to apologize, and he was allowed to stay in the meeting.
According to Fani-Kayode, Atiku never attended another cabinet meeting after the second confrontation. He attributed Atiku's actions to his over-ambition and desire to topple Obasanjo as President. Fani-Kayode also revealed that Obasanjo survived an alleged plot by Atiku to unseat him as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2003 general election.
Fani-Kayode claimed that Atiku's obsession with the presidency dated back to the 2003 election period when he allegedly mobilized governors elected on the PDP platform to move against Obasanjo. However, two interventions saved Obasanjo: the "God factor" and a wealthy businessman from Kano who provided funds for the delegates and the election.
Fani-Kayode praised Obasanjo for refusing to drop Atiku as his running mate mid-stream, and Obasanjo was re-elected as Vice President on the same ticket. However, the real war between the two camps began after the second term, and Fani-Kayode claimed he and others took the battle to Atiku's gates.
The issue between Obasanjo and Atiku resurfaced recently when Obasanjo reiterated the allegation that Atiku plotted his impeachment as President by inducing a former speaker of the House of Representatives, the late Rt. Hon. Ghali Umar Na'Abba, with N5 million. Atiku responded, describing Obasanjo's claims as a politically motivated attempt to rewrite history.
Atiku accused Obasanjo of reviving "stale allegations" to tarnish his image, citing his opposition to Obasanjo's controversial third-term agenda as the reason for the hostility. Atiku defended his actions, stating that he chose to stand firm on constitutionalism and the rule of law, and successfully asserted his rights through the courts.
Key points
- Fani-Kayode reveals confrontations with Atiku Abubakar during Obasanjo's presidency
- Atiku's alleged plot to unseat Obasanjo as PDP presidential candidate in 2003
- Obasanjo and Atiku's differences stem from Atiku's opposition to Obasanjo's third-term agenda
