Atiku Gave Na’Abba ₦5m To Impeach Me, Says Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has alleged that his former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, gave the late Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Na’Abba, ₦5 million to begin an impeachment process against him during his first term in office.

Obasanjo made the allegation in a statement issued in response to comments by former Ogun State Governor, Olusegun Osoba, concerning the political events surrounding the 2003 general elections.

The former President claimed that the impeachment move against him started from the Presidency after Atiku allegedly met with Na’Abba and convinced him to support the idea that he should serve only one term as President.

According to Obasanjo, Atiku took advantage of his absence from the office one Friday to invite Na’Abba to his office, where he allegedly persuaded the then Speaker to commence impeachment proceedings against the President.

Obasanjo said the Vice-President had already convinced himself and some other politicians, although he described the number as insignificant, that he should not seek a second term in office.

He said the meeting between Atiku and Na’Abba was followed by financial support for the impeachment process.

Obasanjo stated, “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, as he had convinced himself and some others but of insignificant number, that I should have only one term as President.”

The former President added, “On the Friday, Atiku invited Na’Abba; he gave him ₦5 million 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 impeachment plan did not frighten or trouble him because, in his view, there was no constitutional basis for his removal from office.

He explained that despite the political pressure and the move allegedly being made against his administration, he remained confident that the process would not succeed.

The former President also said the details of the alleged meeting and the financial support were brought to his attention by his Chief of Staff, whom he described as a professional intelligence officer.

Obasanjo’s latest comments came amid a renewed debate over the political developments that shaped the 2003 general elections and the events surrounding his relationship with key political figures during his first term.

The former President’s relationship with Atiku became increasingly strained during his administration, particularly as political tensions rose ahead of the 2003 presidential election.

While responding to Osoba’s comments, Obasanjo revisited the events of the period and gave his account of what he described as an attempt to remove him from office before the end of his first term.

He maintained that the alleged impeachment move was politically motivated and insisted that he had no constitutional reason to be removed from office.

Obasanjo eventually secured a second term in the 2003 presidential election.