Babangida Warned Obasanjo Not to Trust Atiku — Donald Duke
Former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke has recounted how former Nigerian military Head of State Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida warned former President Olusegun Obasanjo to be cautious in his relationship with his then deputy, Atiku Abubakar.
Duke, who served as governor of Cross River State from 1999 to 2007, made the revelation in a new book written by Seun Oloketuyi, titled How to Win an Election in Nigeria.
In the book, Duke described a meeting involving some of Nigeria’s former leaders at Aso Rock, Abuja, which eventually turned into a detailed discussion about the increasingly strained relationship between Obasanjo and Atiku.
Those present at the meeting included Ibrahim Babangida, Abdulsalami Abubakar, Olusegun Obasanjo and Atiku Abubakar.
According to Duke, the meeting ended with a significant warning from Babangida, suggesting that tensions and distrust between Obasanjo and Atiku had already begun to deepen.
Obasanjo and Atiku’s Relationship Begins to Deteriorate
Duke said distrust between Obasanjo and Atiku increased as the former president prepared to seek a second term in office.
According to him, some of Atiku’s actions at the time raised concerns about whether the vice president would continue to support Obasanjo’s bid for another term.
The issue reportedly became a major source of disagreement within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Duke recalled that at one point, about 10 governors, including himself, met with the then PDP National Chairman, Solomon Lar, to discuss possible alternatives for the position of vice president.
He said the development did not sit well with Obasanjo.
Duke recalled receiving a late-night call from the president, during which Obasanjo expressed his concerns about what he regarded as opposition or disloyalty from his vice president.
What Babangida Told Obasanjo
According to Duke, during the meeting with the former leaders, Babangida reminded Obasanjo of the promises and agreements that had been made following Obasanjo’s release from prison.
Babangida also reportedly warned that it would be difficult to persuade some political leaders in the North to support Obasanjo’s bid for a second presidential term.
Duke said Obasanjo asked whether that represented their final position or whether there was still room for further discussion.
Babangida reportedly responded that there was still room for dialogue.
However, Duke said the most significant part of the encounter occurred after the meeting appeared to have ended.
According to him, as the former leaders were leaving Obasanjo’s private office, Babangida claimed that he had forgotten his keys inside and asked Obasanjo to accompany him back.
When the two men were alone, Duke said Babangida gave Obasanjo a private warning:
“I warn you not to trust your deputy.”
Duke said that when they returned to the others, Babangida looked at Atiku and then at Obasanjo before making another remark:
“This one cannot rule Nigeria.”
According to Duke, the incident demonstrated how deep the distrust between Obasanjo and Atiku had become.
He said the experience also taught him an important lesson about Nigerian politics:
“Betrayal is something that cannot be underestimated in politics.”
Long-Running Tensions Between Obasanjo and Atiku
The relationship between Obasanjo and Atiku has been marked by political disagreements dating back to their years in government together.
The two former leaders have repeatedly exchanged accusations over issues including corruption, abuse of office and political disagreements.
On July 26, the dispute resurfaced after Obasanjo accused Atiku of giving former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba, N5 million to initiate impeachment proceedings against him while he was president.
Obasanjo made the allegation while responding to comments by former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba concerning political developments ahead of the 2003 general election.
On August 1, while speaking with Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, in Lagos, Obasanjo also said he regretted choosing Atiku as his vice president.
Atiku Rejects Obasanjo’s Claims
In response, Atiku, who is seeking the presidency under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), accused Obasanjo of attempting to revive allegations against him for political reasons ahead of the 2027 election.
Atiku argued that Obasanjo was still unhappy with him because he opposed the former president’s alleged desire to seek a third term while they were in government together.
Atiku also maintained that he does not regret the decisions and actions he took during their time in government.
Duke’s account therefore adds another perspective to the long history of political tensions between the two former leaders, while highlighting how concerns about trust and loyalty had already emerged during their years in office.