NewStats: 3,259,559 , 8,170,507 topics. Date: Sunday, 25 May 2025 at 03:16 PM 6w534w

Former Vice-president Atiku Abubakar has insisted that ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo wanted to pave the way for a lifetime presidency and not just a third term in office.

Atiku said this in an interview with a quarterly magazine published by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Zero Tolerance.

The former vice-president said, initially, it was assumed that the plan was to modify the constitution so that Obasanjo could serve a third, four-year term as President.

He, however, said the aspect of tenure limitation was carefully removed so that Obasanjo could be President for life.

When asked why he and Obasanjo were at loggerheads towards the end of their tenure, he said, “My offence was that I disagreed with him on the amendment of the constitution to remove tenure/term limits or what was popularly called the ‘third term agenda’.

“In fact, he sent the then Attorney-General and Prof. Jerry Gana to my office to bring the draft amendments to the constitution. After going through (them), I found out that tenure limits had been removed. In other words, he could be President for life.

“I then asked them that ‘if I send you to the President, can you deliver this message?’ They said yes. I said ‘go and tell him I will not it and (I) will fight it’.”

Atiku said due to his disagreement with Obasanjo, the ex-president decided to tag him as a corrupt person.

The former vice-president said the then Chairman of the EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, accused him of corruption but later came to him to apologise.

He said, “When he came to ask me for forgiveness, I said if you want me to forgive you, Nuhu, go to the same television stations where you said I was corrupt and say you now (have) realised that I am not corrupt.

“Then he said ‘sir, you have forgiven so many people who have offended you publicly without them going to TV stations to apologise to you’ and I said, ‘your case is different because first of all, I helped to found the EFCC’.

“I was instrumental to your appointment, so, I believe I have contributed to your development and this is how you are paying me back. In any case, he kept on apologising and I said, ‘okay, no problem. That closed the chapter’.”

Atiku denied media reports that a United States Senate report accused him of laundering $40m in the US between 2000 and 2008.

The former vice-president confirmed that he did transfer money to the US but it was not illegal.

He added, “It was an allegation which was not proved. It was my legitimate money which I transferred to the US; there was nothing (wrong) about it. More so, I was not indicted in that report. They only said suspicious funds but I proved before the Senate committee that they were not suspicious.”

Atiku explained that the accusations emanated from his dealings with a Louisiana congressman, William Jefferson.

He explained that Jefferson had approached him for a communications project but he referred the American to the minister of communications.

Atiku said the US lawmaker collected $100,000 from a woman under the pretext of using it to bribe him (Atiku).

The ex-vice-president said he, however, rejected the money which he described as too little for a man of his status.

He said the Federal Bureau of Investigation subsequently searched his wife’s US home but nothing incriminating was found.

Atiku said, “Apparently, I didn’t know he (Jefferson) had duped a lady and collected marked money from her in my name. Unknown to him, the FBI were on his trail. But, of course, there was no way he could give me money because what was $100,000 to me?

“Eventually, my wife’s residence was searched and nothing was found but when his residence was searched, of course, the money was found there and he was convicted. I was not even called as a witness.”

http://punchng.com/obasanjo-wanted-life-presidency-not-third-term-atiku-insists/

[size=16pt] The ex-vice-president said he, however, rejected the money which he described as too little for a man of his status [/size]

Whoever Atiku's media strategist (s) is/are, s/he/they should be fired with immediate effect, cos this just dropped him lower than where he has always been.. The aim of this interview if i can hazard a guess was supposed to launder his image but it just did the opposite..

This is a man that has never been known to operate even a pure water factory prior to his public service engagements, still having the guts to rub "status" that the sweat of hardworking Nigerians elevated him to in everybody's faces....

We all know that this is against 2019, we are waiting for you..

[size=18pt] what was $100,000 to me? [/size]

See the matter of fact way this model of corruption is saying this, so disgusting!! 00k can't be nothing since he never worked for it, a corrupt and inefficient system threw it into his laps. ANUOFIA , OLORIBURUKU SOMEBODY!!

Your case is different because first of all, I helped to found the EFCC’.

Really? In his little mind, because he "helped" to establish EFCC, he is above the laws of the lands?

“I was instrumental to your appointment, so, I believe I have contributed to your development and this is how you are paying me back.

Right here is the bottleneck that godfathers constitute to any system, their protegees are leaned on heavily to look the other way..




As for blocking OBJ's agenda, he didn't do so out of patriotism or any special love for the nation, it's all to do with his undying ambition, & God willing, it will remain a pipe dream!!

Ebora Owu is a fraud star you know!

OBJ and Atiku are the worst thing that had ever happened to Nigeria.

I'm sure he wasn't in stable state of mind to have said those word.

Because you help found EFCC means you're holier than thou and hence Ribadu should omit your name from list of corruption.

How did you get the money confirmed you did transfer to the US if not as a result of apex looting you waved towards action.

Atiku said the US lawmaker collected $100,000 from a woman under the pretext of using it to bribe him (Atiku).

The ex-vice-president said he, however, rejected the money which he described as too little for a man of his status. sad.

Your kleptomaniac nature even understands what size of cash to collect. Smh. (Industrial corruption)

This interview only portray strings in exhibiting your narcissistic and corrupt nature.

I'm still amaze how you manage to convince youreself to believe you made sense all through the interview. Whack!!!

OK

Ayam waiting for Baba iyabo response am sure he will talk back

Irresponsible old men who have succeeded in dragging Nigeria 6 feets below

modath:


Really? In his little mind, because he "helped" to establish EFCC, he is above the laws of the lands?




Right here is the bottleneck that godfathers constitute to any system, their protegees are leaned on heavily to look the other way..




As for blocking OBJ's agenda, he didn't do so out of patriotism or any special love for the nation, it's all to do with his undying ambition, & God willing, it will remain a pipe dream!!

Easy mehn. U nor dey sleep?

More confession plz.....has the u.s congressman spend the marked money? Cus am interested plz!!

Obj no fit write letters again wat is happening

patriotic9jaboy:


Easy mehn. U nor dey sleep?

Nope, there is no rest for the "wicked".

Atikus main points that he wanted to get across in the article were......



1: Nuhu ribadu came to beg me for forgiveness for doing his job...since I am also Jesus and muhammad from 12 to 5 every day! You need to beg me to feed in this country!




2: I rejected jeffersons $100k...As a very big boy that I was my going rate was a lot higher than that and that was the sort of cash we dash to our bitches! He should have come harder since looting our commonwealth had given our taste buds and bank balances a new lease of life!




This local executive chest beating no be for here!

Atiku, despite his foibles, is a man I ire a lot. I the role he played in scuttling Obasanjo's third term bid. Obasanjo hasn't forgiven Atiku for what he did. In his book, My Watch, he said so many infelicitous things about Atiku.

As regards this interview, like Modath said, Atiku needs new media aides. He wasn't circumspect in his statements at all.

modath:



Whoever Atiku's media strategist (s) is/are, s/he/they should be fired with immediate effect, cos this just dropped him lower than where he has always been.. The aim of this interview if i can hazard a guess was supposed to launder his image but it just did the opposite..

This is a man that has never been known to operate even a pure water factory prior to his public service engagements, still having the guts to rub "status" that the sweat of hardworking Nigerians elevated him to in everybody's faces....

We all know that this is against 2019, we are waiting for you..





See the matter of fact way this model of corruption is saying this, so disgusting!! 00k can't be nothing since he never worked for it, a corrupt and inefficient system threw it into his laps. ANUOFIA , OLORIBURUKU SOMEBODY!!

ermm...but this man dey ya loving party ooo...

Wetin mr corruption fight go do about am??

A Yoruba ll always ll remain one see how modath practically exonerated obasanjo but went in deep on atiku ..why is sw like this please address this case properly because people are already seeing you as a huge joke .atiku hinted on obj third term agenda which was unconstitutional ,atiku rejected the move ,that's a plus for him and deserves a pat even though corrupt conderming him outrightly and leaving out obj affirms why flat heads calls slippery creatures and hypocrites

Izonpikin:
ermm...but this man dey ya loving party ooo...

Wetin mr corruption fight go do about am??

Which party you give me card for? You people sef..

It wld av been far more better than the morons that followed from PDP,who ran us down!!
Buhari dey clean the mess...

modath:


Really? In his little mind, because he "helped" to establish EFCC, he is above the laws of the lands?




Right here is the bottleneck that godfathers constitute to any system, their protegees are leaned on heavily to look the other way..




As for blocking OBJ's agenda, he didn't do so out of patriotism or any special love for the nation, it's all to do with his undying ambition, & God willing, it will remain a pipe dream!!

You hate atiiku ooo!

Atiku

modath:


Which party you give me card for? You people sef..

cheiiii..modath no be so oo...all of ona wan begin treat apc like cancer patient...


Own up to your party na...

midolian:


You hate atiiku ooo!

Mido... Hate is too strong but i really do dislike him,, has no scruples & he pretends a LOT..

He is currently singing Federalism song, really? A Fulani man who owes his stupendous wealth to a loose and corrupt unitary system? Issokay... Na the undiscerning go buy that rotten beans for hin hand.

We always know baba's plan, to rule us all.

OK.

baba iyabo doing big thangs outcheaaaa. lolzzz oduduwa warrior and dictator

who ask you? aproko...

modath:



Whoever Atiku's media strategist (s) is/are, s/he/they should be fired with immediate effect, cos this just dropped him lower than where he has always been.. The aim of this interview if i can hazard a guess was supposed to launder his image but it just did the opposite..

This is a man that has never been known to operate even a pure water factory prior to his public service engagements, still having the guts to rub "status" that the sweat of hardworking Nigerians elevated him to in everybody's faces....

We all know that this is against 2019, we are waiting for you..





See the matter of fact way this model of corruption is saying this, so disgusting!! 00k can't be nothing since he never worked for it, a corrupt and inefficient system threw it into his laps. ANUOFIA , OLORIBURUKU SOMEBODY!!

This is where corruption start you are the OP and as well the first to comment,why not leave that space for someone else

No he wanted to be Nigeria mugabe

afonja people's

modath:



Whoever Atiku's media strategist (s) is/are, s/he/they should be fired with immediate effect, cos this just dropped him lower than where he has always been.. The aim of this interview if i can hazard a guess was supposed to launder his image but it just did the opposite..

This is a man that has never been known to operate even a pure water factory prior to his public service engagements, still having the guts to rub "status" that the sweat of hardworking Nigerians elevated him to in everybody's faces....

We all know that this is against 2019, we are waiting for you..





See the matter of fact way this model of corruption is saying this, so disgusting!! 00k can't be nothing since he never worked for it, a corrupt and inefficient system threw it into his laps. ANUOFIA , OLORIBURUKU SOMEBODY!!

**** He was custom assistant boss before he became a vice-president. He won the adamawa governorship race but obasanjo called him to be his assistant. Atiku was money b4 he became vice. He had investments outside the shores of nigeria prior to 1999. So go take the back seat

Which party this Atiku dey now self? , the likes of this op either tow the political line or tribal lines, but obviously it time to play the tribal line, but if it is issues like mass sacking or fulani herdsmen, they will hide their voices, jokers