Former Cross River State governor, Donald Duke has disclosed how the former military head of state, Ibrahim Babangida (IBB) secretly warned former President Olusegun Obasanjo not to trust his deputy at the time, Atiku Abubakar.
Duke’s account was said to be contained in a new book by Seun Oloketuyi, ‘How to Win Elections in Nigeria’, which examines political developments and intrigues surrounding the early years of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.
Duke, who ruled Cross River between 1999 and 2007, told of a tense encounter involving Babangida, former military head of state Abdulsalami Abubakar, Obasanjo and Atiku at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
“The relationship between Obasanjo and Atiku had deteriorated a lot as Obasanjo was preparing to run for a second term,” Duke said.
He said Atiku’s political activities had raised questions whether the then Vice-President was still committed to Obasanjo’s re-election.
The difference eventually became a major issue in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with some party leaders looking for alternatives to Atiku for the vice-presidential position.
Duke said he and nine other governors were in talks with the then National Chairman of the PDP, Solomon Lar, on a possible replacement for the Vice-President.
It was a development that Obasanjo was very concerned about, he said. Duke said he got a late-night telephone call from the President, who complained about what he saw as his deputy’s betrayal.
Duke remembered: “I begged him to stay calm and told him that I would fly to Abuja the next morning.”
Duke said the situation later led to a strange meeting at the Presidential Villa after Atiku allegedly arranged for Babangida and Abdulsalami to meet with Obasanjo.
During the meeting, Babangida reminded Obasanjo of the political understandings reached after the latter’s release from prison.
He had also apparently told Obasanjo that it would be difficult to get the support of influential northern politicians for his bid for a second term.
Duke said Obasanjo asked if the position was final or if there was still a possibility for negotiations.
Discussions could still go on, Babangida said, the former governor added.
The most important part of the meeting happened after the formal meeting appeared to be finished, Duke said.
He said Babangida told him he had forgotten his keys in Obasanjo’s private study and asked the former President to follow him back inside.
When the two men were alone, Duke said Babangida dropped the diplomatic tone of the discussion earlier and gave Obasanjo a direct warning about Atiku.
Babangida reportedly told Obasanjo, “I told you not to trust that deputy of yours.”
Duke added that upon their return to the others, Babangida looked at Atiku and turned to Obasanjo and reportedly said, “This one cannot rule Nigeria.”
The incident showed how deep the mistrust between Obasanjo and Atiku was and how their political differences had become a topic of discussion among influential figures, Duke said.
Duke said looking back at the episode, it reinforced a big lesson he learned from his years in political office.
“Betrayal is a very crazy thing in politics,” he said.