By the constitution, I had to inaugurate or prorogue the National Assembly on June 4 1999. The most important officer in the National Assembly is the Senate President and that office had been zoned to the South East. And here was where Atiku Abubakar, my Vice President, first showed his hand and his character.
Without seeking my view or approval, he started planning the installation of Chuba Okadigbo as the Senate President. I did a background check on Chuba including his past as a student and made enquiries about hin in the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) under Shagari and no one would recommend him for the post of Senate President.
I left Atiku to go on his chase while I carried out a meticulous and detailed investigation and background check on each Senator from the South East. The one that appeared most appointable was Evan Enwerem.
I canvassed the Senate across the board for his election and he was elected. Atiku did not expect it and he felt sore. He bagan to strategise for Enwerem to be removed and Chuba Okadigbo to be installed.
His strategy worked because I was at Abuja airport to receive a visiting Head of State when news reached me that the Senate had mpeached Enwerem and elected Okadigbo.
I was not perturbed. I came to understand from some Senators including Florence Ita Giwa, who later became my Special Adviser/Liaison Officer to the National Assembly, that Atiku distributed US$5,000 each to some Senators to carry out the "coup".
That was the beginning of bribing the legislature to carry out a particular line of action to suit or satisfy the purpose or desire of an individual or group. The National Assembly had tasted blood and they would continue to want more.
From the day I nominated Atiku to be my Vice; he set his mind not for any good, benefit or service of the country, but on furiously planning to upstage, supplant or remove me at all costs and to take my place. That was what I brought him for, but he was impatient and over ambitious. He was not ready to learn and to wait. Pity!
His marabout, who predicted that despite being elected as Governor, he would not be sworn in as a Governor, which happened, also assured him that he would take over from me in a matter of months rather than years.
All his plans, appointments of people and his actions were towards actualusation of his marabout's prediction. Once, I realised his intention and programme, I watched him like a hawk without giving any indication of what I knew and letting down my guard.
I could not succumb to the distraction, diversion and malevolence of an ambitious but unwise deputy.
SOURCE : MY WATCH, VOLUME 2 BY EX PRESIDENT OLUSEGUN OBASANJO
By the constitution, I had to inaugurate or prorogue the National Assembly on June 4 1999. The most important officer in the National Assembly is the Senate President and that office had been zoned to the South East. And here was where Atiku Abubakar, my Vice President, first showed his hand and his character.
Without seeking my view or approval, he started planning the installation of Chuba Okadigbo as the Senate President. I did a background check on Chuba including his past as a student and made enquiries about hin in the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) under Shagari and no one would recommend him for the post of Senate President.
I left Atiku to go on his chase while I carried out a meticulous and detailed investigation and background check on each Senator from the South East. The one that appeared most appointable was Evan Enwerem.
I canvassed the Senate across the board for his election and he was elected. Atiku did not expect it and he felt sore. He bagan to strategise for Enwerem to be removed and Chuba Okadigbo to be installed.
His strategy worked because I was at Abuja airport to receive a visiting Head of State when news reached me that the Senate had mpeached Enwerem and elected Okadigbo.
I was not perturbed. I came to understand from some Senators including Florence Ita Giwa, who later became my Special Adviser/Liaison Officer to the National Assembly, that Atiku distributed US$5,000 each to some Senators to carry out the "coup".
That was the beginning of bribing the legislature to carry out a particular line of action to suit or satisfy the purpose or desire of an individual or group. The National Assembly had tasted blood and they would continue to want more.
From the day I nominated Atiku to be my Vice; he set his mind not for any good, benefit or service of the country, but on furiously planning to upstage, supplant or remove me at all costs and to take my place. That was what I brought him for, but he was impatient and over ambitious. He was not ready to learn and to wait. Pity!
His marabout, who predicted that despite being elected as Governor, he would not be sworn in as a Governor, which happened, also assured him that he would take over from me in a matter of months rather than years.
All his plans, appointments of people and his actions were towards actualusation of his marabout's prediction. Once, I realised his intention and programme, I watched him like a hawk without giving any indication of what I knew and letting down my guard.
I could not succumb to the distraction, diversion and malevolence of an ambitious but unwise deputy.
SOURCE : MY WATCH, VOLUME 2 BY EX PRESIDENT OLUSEGUN OBASANJO
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