“How I Persuaded Obasanjo Not To Take Over Lagos From Tinubu”, Atiku Shares Details

“How I Persuaded Obasanjo Not To Take Over Lagos From Tinubu”, Atiku Shares Details

  • The presidential candidate of the PDP in the 2023 general election, Atiku Abubakar, during his world press conference on Thursday, made a revelation about how he assisted Bola Tinubu
  • Aside from opening up about his Chicago mission, Atiku revealed he assisted Tinubu in taking charge of Lagos state
  • The former Vice president disclosed that he convinced former President Olusegun Obasanjo against taking over Lagos from Tinubu

FCT, Abuja - The flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2023 general elections, Atiku Abubakar, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should be grateful to him.

Bola Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar, Olusegun Obasanjo, 2023 election issues
Atiku revealed how he helped Tinubu when Obasanjo wanted to take over Lagos from him. Photo credit: Atiku Abubakar, Olusegun Obasanjo, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Source: Facebook

The former vice president claimed that Tinubu should be grateful to him for persuading the then-President Olusegun Obasanjo not to take over Lagos, Channels TV reported.

Obasanjo was Nigeria’s president from 1999 to 2007 under the then-ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while Tinubu of the defunct Action Congress (AC) was the Lagos State governor within that period.

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Chicago certificate saga: 4 things CSU documents show about Tinubu, Atiku’s lawyer reveals

While fielding questions from reporters during the event, Atiku denied claims that he betrayed Tinubu as speculated in some quarters.

He opined thus:

“Those of you who are old enough will also remember that in 2003, the PDP took over all the South-Western states with the exception of Lagos. I stood between Obasanjo and himself and said, ‘No, you can’t take over Lagos. Leave it and he left it.”
“There are other things that I would not want to go into. But I vehemently deny that I stabbed him in the back,” he added.

‘He broke away’, Atiku says about Tinubu

Recalling his relationship with Tinubu, Atiku said the former Lagos governor wanted to be his running mate in the 2007 election but he objected because they are of the same faith.

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Atiku reveals what is at stake as he challenges Tinubu’s Chicago certificate

“Yes, it is true. In 2007, we came together to form AC. And in Lagos at the convention, I emerged as the winner and got the ticket. After I got the ticket, he sent about five or six party men – some of them are hear. I can even name them but I don’t want to embarrass them,” the PDP presidential candidate for the 2023 election said.

Atiku slams Muslims-Muslim ticket, says govt must reflect Nigeria’s diversity

Meanwhile, Atiku Abubakar earlier slammed the adoption of a Muslim-Muslim ticket in Nigeria.

During his world press conference in Abuja on Thursday, October 5, Atiku stated that adopting the Muslim-Muslim ticket does not reflect Nigeria's diversity and composition.

He stated this while reflecting on his strained relationship with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the 2007 political alignment.

Chicago State University confirms diploma certificate Tinubu submitted to INEC

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Just in: I never betrayed Tinubu, he owes me, Atiku gives reason

Legit.ng earlier reported that the Chicago State University has sworn to an affidavit that its diploma certificate and certified copied offer to President Bola Tinubu is valid.

In an affidavit, the university maintained that some differences in the diplomas and the certified copy were due to human errors.

According to the affidavit, the Chicago State University changed its seal and font after it issued the diploma to President Tinubu.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
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Esther Odili (Politics and Current Affairs Editor) Esther Odili is a journalist and a Politics/Current Affairs Editor at Legit.ng with 6+ years of experience. She Holds OND and HND in Mass Communication from the Nigerian Institue of Journalism (NIJ), where she was recognized as the best student in print journalism in 2018. Before joining Legit.ng, Esther has worked with other reputable media houses, such as the New Telegraph newspaper and Galaxy Television. In 2024, Esther obtained a certificate in advanced digital reporting from the Google News Initiative. Email: esther.odili@corp.legit.ng.