Renowned media personality and former presidential candidate, Dele Momodu, has revealed that ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar was originally meant to take over power from former President Olusegun Obasanjo after their first term in office.
Momodu, a prominent member of the opposition, made this known in an article posted on his official Facebook page. He claimed there was an understanding between Obasanjo and Atiku that the latter would succeed him after the 2003 elections.
“The deal was that he (Atiku) would take over after their first term in office,” Momodu wrote. “But it fell through despite the strong support from the majority of the governors.”
Atiku served as Vice President under Obasanjo from 1999 to 2007. During the second term, Momodu said Obasanjo withdrew Atiku’s constitutional privileges, essentially sidelining him from key national affairs.
“He still respected his boss and doused the tension during the second term, even when he was virtually stripped of his rights,” Momodu added. “He accepted his fate calmly.”
Momodu praised Atiku for moving into business after office, describing him as a successful entrepreneur and contrasting him with other political figures who struggle outside politics.
“Atiku has the Midas touch. He has his hands in many successful ventures. Nigeria would be better off if more of our leaders were like him — productive and not dependent on politics alone,” he wrote.
Atiku has run for president multiple times without success. In the 2023 election, he came second behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
