Dele Momodu Reveals Atiku Had Deal To Succeed Obasanjo
A former presidential candidate and opposition coalition member, Dele Momodu, has revealed that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had an agreement to take over power from ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo after his first term in office.
Momodu said the arrangement, which enjoyed overwhelming support from many former governors, collapsed when Obasanjo reneged and subsequently stripped Atiku of his constitutional privileges.
In a post on his Facebook page on Friday, the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain stated that despite the fallout, Atiku maintained respect for Obasanjo and calmed political tensions during the administration’s second term.
“The deal was that he would take over after their first term in office but it fell through despite the humongous support from the majority of the governors.
“He still respected his boss and doused the tension in the second term when he was virtually stripped of his Constitutional obligations and rights. He accepted his fate with uncommon equanimity.
“Since then he has engaged in productive and well-managed businesses, unlike most of his contemporaries who cannot survive outside power and politics.
“He is a man with Midas touch and has his fingers in many fruitful pies. Nigeria would have been a much better place if the majority of our leaders had been gainfully employed like him.”
Atiku served as Vice President between 1999 and 2007. Since leaving office, he has made several unsuccessful bids for the presidency, most recently coming second behind President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 election.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
