Atiku Abubakar once believed he was next in line to lead Nigeria, but plans reportedly agreed with Olusegun Obasanjo after their first term never came through — www.naijnaira.com reports.
In a Facebook post, Dele Momodu revealed that the arrangement was for Atiku to assume the presidency after Obasanjo’s initial tenure ended.
Atiku, who served as Vice President from 1999 to 2007, lost his position’s influence after the agreement broke down and Obasanjo allegedly revoked his constitutional powers.
Momodu noted that a majority of the state governors at the time backed the handover plan, providing what he called “humongous support” for Atiku’s succession.
“The deal was that he would take over after their first term in office but it fell through,” Momodu wrote, emphasizing the depth of political backing Atiku had.
Despite the fallout, Atiku remained calm and didn’t escalate the rift, even when stripped of nearly all his official responsibilities.
Momodu said Atiku focused on business after leaving office, distancing himself from the dependency on political power that characterizes many former officeholders.
“He accepted his fate with uncommon equanimity,” Momodu added, describing him as someone deeply involved in successful ventures across sectors.
Atiku has made several presidential runs since leaving office, including his most recent attempt in 2023, where he lost to Bola Tinubu.
Article updated 3 weeks ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
