Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has alleged that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar provided N5 million to support an impeachment plot against him during his first term in office.
Obasanjo made the claim while responding to remarks by former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba concerning 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 encouraged to begin impeachment proceedings after meeting with Atiku.
“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 support to facilitate the impeachment process.
“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,” he added.
Obasanjo said the alleged events were documented and brought to his attention by his Chief of Staff, whom he described as a professional intelligence officer.
The former president stated that he was not disturbed by the impeachment threat because he believed there was no constitutional basis for removing him from office.
