Former Cross River State governor, Donald Duke, has recounted an alleged private conversation in which former military head of state, Ibrahim Babangida, warned ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo not to trust his then vice-president, Atiku Abubakar.
Duke’s account is contained in a new book by Seun Oloketuyi, How to Win Elections in Nigeria, which examines the political intrigues that shaped the early years of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.
Duke, who was Cross River governor between 1999 and 2007, said tensions between Obasanjo and Atiku intensified as the president prepared for the 2003 presidential election.
He said Atiku’s political manoeuvres had generated concerns within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) about his commitment to Obasanjo’s re-election.
According to Duke, 10 governors, including himself, eventually met with the then PDP national chairman, Solomon Lar, to consider possible alternatives for the vice-presidential slot.
The development, he said, unsettled Obasanjo, who later called him late at night to complain about the situation.
“I urged him to remain calm and promised to fly to Abuja the next morning,” Duke recalled.
He said the episode led to a meeting at the Presidential Villa involving Obasanjo, Atiku, Babangida and former military head of state, Abdulsalami Abubakar.
Duke said Atiku had arranged for Babangida and Abdulsalami to meet with Obasanjo as tensions continued to mount within the ruling party.
Babangida’s alleged warning
Duke said Babangida reminded Obasanjo during the meeting of agreements reached after the former president’s release from prison.
He also reportedly warned that securing the support of northern political leaders for Obasanjo’s second-term bid would not be easy.
Obasanjo, according to Duke, asked whether the position represented the final decision or whether there was still room for negotiation.
Babangida reportedly replied that discussions could continue.
Duke, however, said the most revealing part of the encounter happened after the meeting.
According to his account, Babangida told Obasanjo that he had forgotten his keys in the former president’s private study and asked him to accompany him back.
It was during the private walk back to the study that Babangida allegedly spoke more directly.
“I warned you not to trust that your deputy,” Duke quoted him as telling Obasanjo.
When the two men returned to the others, Babangida allegedly looked at Atiku and then told Obasanjo: “This one cannot rule Nigeria.”
Duke said the incident showed the extent of the distrust surrounding the relationship between Obasanjo and Atiku and the seriousness of the political battle taking place behind the scenes.
For Duke, the episode also offered a lasting lesson about political relationships.
“Betrayal is a very crazy thing in politics,” he said.
Long-running Obasanjo-Atiku dispute
Obasanjo and Atiku have remained political rivals since their time as president and vice-president from 1999 to 2007.
Their relationship deteriorated significantly during Obasanjo’s second-term bid, with both men subsequently trading allegations of corruption, abuse of office and political betrayal.
The dispute has resurfaced ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
On July 24, Obasanjo alleged that Atiku gave the late Ghali Umar Na’Abba, then Speaker of the House of Representatives, N5 million to commence impeachment proceedings against him during his first term.
The former president made the allegation while reacting to comments by former Ogun State governor, Olusegun Osoba, about political developments preceding the 2003 election.
Obasanjo later reiterated his criticism of Atiku during a fireside conversation with activist Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, in Lagos on August 1.
He said he regretted choosing Atiku as his vice-president.
Atiku, who is contesting the 2027 presidential election on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), rejected the allegations and accused Obasanjo of fabricating claims against him for political reasons.
The former vice-president linked Obasanjo’s continued criticism to his opposition to the former president’s attempt to secure a third term in office.
Atiku maintained that he had no regrets about opposing the third-term bid.
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