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Obasanjo’s Exposé On Akala’s Book: Why Do Northern Politicians Prefer Southerners Stepping Down For Them?



The Oasis Reporters

November 6, 2020

Chief Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala.


Eminently Nigerian personalities gathered recently in Ibadan over the public presentation of ‘Amazing Grace’, a biography of former Oyo State Governor, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala.




I have not seen the book yet, but former President Olusegun Obasanjo has been quoted as saying that the alliance of his former deputy, Atiku Abubakar with late Dr Alex Ekwueme during the 2003 presidential primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party collapsed after Ekwueme was defeated at the poll.

Obasanjo said this in Ibadan on Thursday at the public presentation of the book.

Obasanjo, who was the chairman on the occasion, gave the explanation to correct an aspect of the book, where the author claimed that Atiku backed down before the primary poll.

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, PDP presidential candidate in the 2019 election.



He said, “Again, Atiku did not back down as you claimed until Alex Ekwueme was defeated at the primary of PDP in 2003, as Atiku’s agreement with Ekwueme was to be Ekwueme’s running mate and Ekwueme, as President, spending three years and resigning for Atiku to complete the fourth year and then for Atiku to contest election in his own right in 2007.

“It was after the result of the primary that Atiku backed down. If you put it that way, it was when there was no other choice.”

One time Vice president Alexander Ekwueme.



The sticking point in President Obasanjo’s revelation was that Ekwueme was to resign after three years and his ‘hypothetical’ Vice President, Atiku Abubakar would complete the one year remaining and run on his own merit.

Former president Olusegun Obasanjo (left), His then Vice President,  Atiku Abubakar.



This secret arrangement has so many questions to answer on Nigeria’s nationality question.
For instance, why would a cerebral “president” such as Dr. Ekwueme be stampeded out of office for his presumed “Vice president”, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to take over?

How much sense does that make?

Assuming that Ekwueme were making enormous progress in setting Nigeria on the part of peace, prosperity and progress, he would still have to step down?


How feasible is that solution if Nigeria were to be a functional democracy where there is egalitarianism, equity and justice?

Unfortunately, issues of this nature tend to produce outcomes that lead to demonstrations and struggles like the recently ended #endsars that shook Nigeria to it’s core foundation.

The revelation has a throwback to the unfortunate incident that led to the troubles that orchestrated the defeat and demonization of former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and the events are still fresh in the mind.

Perhaps it may be one major factor that ensures that each time the north produces a president for the nation, it is almost always a Muslim of one particular hue. Or whenever the South puts forth a president, it would have to be a Christian as if there are no Muslims in the South or no Christians in the North. And the fact too, that all the presidents are men.

Just as democracy is redefining America such that a man black or white can emerge as president of the country and a white or black woman can become Vice president, Nigeria should restructure to the level where any Nigerian can be what he wants to be, not minding where he comes, with the content of his character not his tribe or religion being determinants.

Written by Greg Abolo

Greg Abolo

Blogger at The Oasis Reporters.

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