‘He Gave Na’Abba ₦5m to Impeach Me’ ; ‘You’re Still Bitter Over Third-Term Saga’ — Obasanjo, Atiku in Fresh War of Words

• Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has alleged that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar gave the late former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba, ₦5 million to begin impeachment proceedings against him.

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

Obasanjo made the allegation while responding to comments by former Ogun State Governor, Olusegun Osoba, on the political events leading up to the 2003 general elections.

According to the former president, the impeachment plot originated from within the Presidency after Atiku allegedly held a private meeting with Na’Abba.

Obasanjo claimed Atiku persuaded the late Speaker that he should serve only one term as president and encouraged him to commence impeachment proceedings against him.

“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,” Obasanjo said.

He further alleged that Atiku provided financial support for the move.

“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 meeting and cash payment were documented and later reported to him by his Chief of Staff, whom he described as a professional intelligence officer.

Despite the alleged plot, the former president said he was never worried because he believed there were no constitutional grounds for his impeachment.

Atiku Denies Allegation

Reacting to the claim, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar dismissed the allegation, accusing Obasanjo of making the accusation only after the death of Ghali Umar Na’Abba, who is no longer alive to defend himself.

In a statement issued on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku questioned why Obasanjo never made the allegation while Na’Abba was still alive.

“As Africans, we understand the solemn duty of speaking truthfully about the dead.

“It is therefore deeply troubling that former President Obasanjo has chosen this moment to allege that I gave the late Rt. Hon. Ghali Umar Na’Abba a bribe to impeach him.”

He added:

“If this allegation were true, why did he never make it while Rt. Hon. Na’Abba was alive? Why wait until the only man who could confirm or refute the claim has departed this world?

“By invoking a deceased man as the principal witness to such a grave allegation, former President Obasanjo has denied Nigerians the opportunity of hearing the other side of the story.”

Atiku argued that the allegation was unfair to the late former Speaker’s memory because he could no longer defend his integrity or respond to the claims.

‘Why Was No Action Taken?’

The former vice president also questioned why no criminal investigation or prosecution was initiated if there was credible evidence to support the allegation.

“If there was indeed evidence of any criminal conduct as alleged, Nigerians are entitled to ask why no action was taken at the time by a government that wielded the full powers of the Nigerian state,” he said.

Atiku Links Allegation to 2027 Politics

Atiku further alleged that the timing of Obasanjo’s statement was intended to damage his reputation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“Coming at a time when the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general election is taking shape, the obvious objective is to besmirch my person and reputation and confer an undeserved political advantage on the former President’s kinsman,” he said.

He added that Nigerians were more concerned about current national challenges than political disputes from more than two decades ago.

“Nigerians, however, know better. They are too discerning to be distracted by stale allegations resurrected for political convenience.”

‘I Opposed Third-Term Agenda’

Atiku also maintained that his relationship with Obasanjo deteriorated because he opposed the former president’s controversial third-term agenda.

“My offence was that I stood firmly against the unconstitutional third-term agenda. As a democrat, I chose the path of constitutionalism and the rule of law,” he stated.

He added that he defended the Constitution through the courts rather than surrender democratic principles.

“Rather than surrender democratic principles on the altar of personal ambition, I defended the Constitution and successfully asserted my rights through the courts in a series of landmark legal victories against a sitting President.

“Those battles are now part of Nigeria’s democratic history. It is evident that the bitterness arising from that defining period has failed to leave former President Obasanjo.”

‘Nigerians Deserve Solutions’

Concluding his response, Atiku said he would remain focused on offering solutions to Nigeria’s economic and security challenges instead of engaging in old political disputes.

“The task before leaders today is not to rewrite history but to rescue the future. Nigerians are more interested in knowing why food prices continue to soar, why public debt continues to rise despite increased revenues, and why scandal after scandal continues to trail the current administration than in revisiting political disagreements from over two decades ago.”

He also said Obasanjo was free to support any candidate ahead of the 2027 elections but should do so openly instead of making allegations that could no longer be independently verified.

“Nigerians deserve solutions to today’s problems, not recycled political tales from yesterday.”