Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has accused his former deputy, Atiku Abubakar, of leading an impeachment plan against his government and giving N5 million to kick-start the process in an attempt to take over power.
Obasanjo made the claims in a strongly worded letter to former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba while responding to criticism over the political events surrounding the 2003 general elections.
He said the impeachment move started from inside the Presidency after Atiku became convinced that he should serve only one term. Obasanjo alleged that while he was away, Atiku invited then Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Na’Abba, to his office and urged him to begin 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 that I should have only one term as President,” Obasanjo wrote.
He also claimed Atiku funded the plan.
“He gave him 5 million naira 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 plot was part of his deputy’s wider plan to replace him before his constitutional tenure ended.
“The game continued to be played on with me treating it with contempt as I had committed no impeachable offence except my Vice-President who wanted to take over by hook or by crook.”
He said he ignored the impeachment threats because he believed he had done nothing to deserve removal from office. He added that former President Shehu Shagari later offered to step in after asking him about the issue.
“President Shagari asked me about impeachment and I told him that for me, there was absolutely nothing in it. He requested for my permission to handle it and, of course, I gave him the go-ahead.”
Obasanjo further alleged that after the impeachment bid failed, Atiku switched to a “two-track approach,” including working with former Vice President Alex Ekwueme and seeking the backing of the six Alliance for Democracy governors in the South-West ahead of the 2003 elections.
“When he failed in the impeachment exercise, he made a two-track approach. You were all convinced of this anti-democratic plan and you all fell for it.”
He also claimed some politicians were advised to deal directly with Atiku instead of him.
“Have no dealing with Obasanjo as President but deal with his Vice-President and you would get the best. That was clever political move,” he wrote.
The allegations were contained in Obasanjo’s reply to Osoba’s article, “How Obasanjo Deceived Us in 2003,” in which he denied claims that he misled Alliance for Democracy leaders during the political realignments before the 2003 elections.
