Atiku Funded My Impeachment Plot With N5m — Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has alleged that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar provided N5 million to support an attempt to impeach him during his first term in office.

Obasanjo made the claim while responding to remarks by former Ogun State Governor, Olusegun Osoba, on the political events that preceded the 2003 general elections.

In a statement, the former president alleged that the late Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Na’Abba, was persuaded to initiate impeachment proceedings against him after meeting with Atiku.

According to Obasanjo, the meeting took place on a Friday while he was away from the Presidential Villa.

“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 claimed.

He further alleged that Atiku provided financial backing for the impeachment effort.

“On the Friday, Atiku invited Na’Abba; he gave him N5 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 added.

The former president maintained that the alleged events were documented and brought to his attention by his Chief of Staff, whom he described as a professional intelligence officer.

Obasanjo, however, said he was not disturbed by the impeachment move, insisting that there were no constitutional grounds to remove him from office at the time.