Obasanjo’s allegations against Atiku will collapse, says aide

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ABUJA — Media Adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Paul Ibe, has accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of using political allegations against his former deputy for electoral purposes, saying the claims would not withstand scrutiny.

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Ibe made the allegations in a statement posted on his Facebook account on Sunday, titled, “Obasanjo’s campaign of lies, political manipulation and orchestrated deceit falling apart like a pack of cards.”

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He was reacting to comments attributed to Obasanjo alleging that Atiku had mobilised the late former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba, to initiate moves to impeach him during their time in office between 1999 and 2007.

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Ibe described the allegation as baseless and accused Obasanjo of revisiting allegations against Atiku during election periods.

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He argued that Na’Abba, who died in 2023, could no longer respond to the claim.

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However, Ibe cited former member of the House of Representatives, Abubakar Bawa Bwari, who served as Chief Whip during the period, as disputing Obasanjo’s account.

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According to Ibe, Bwari had said Na’Abba did not seek Obasanjo’s removal and that Atiku acted as an emissary to lawmakers on behalf of the former President.

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Ibe also disputed accounts concerning the 2003 presidential nomination process within the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

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He cited former Abia State Governor, Senator Orji Kalu, who, in a video referenced by Ibe, said Atiku knelt before PDP governors to seek their support for Obasanjo’s re-election.

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Ibe quoted Kalu as saying that Atiku had told the governors he did not want to betray Obasanjo, despite moves by some PDP governors at the time to support Atiku for the presidency.

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The aide also revisited the controversy surrounding the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, PTDF, in the build-up to the 2007 general elections.

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He said Atiku had submitted himself to investigation over allegations relating to the fund after temporarily relinquishing his immunity, insisting that the allegations were politically motivated because of his opposition to Obasanjo’s reported Third Term bid.

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The statement was signed by Ibe as Media Adviser to Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the ADC and former Vice President of Nigeria.

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