In yet another public confirmation of the rift in the Presidency, Vice-President Atiku Abubakar yesterday morning declared that he was prepared to bear the consequences of his opposition to a third term in office for President Olusegun Obasanjo.
But in a swift reaction yesterday, Obasanjo�s Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, said Atiku should resign his office having shown himself to be disloyal.
The Vice-President, for the first time, disclosed that he had suffered untold humiliation in the last three years under Obasanjo to the extent that nothing could be worse, but warned that he would not go down without a fight. “When I talk, you will know more,” he assured.
Addressing a meeting of serving and past governors, political and opinion leaders and members of the National Assembly opposed to the third term agenda at the Niger State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja, Atiku said he had been persecuted and hounded over his belief that it was immoral to manipulate the Constitution for a selfish agenda of self-succession.
He commended members of the National Assembly for what he said was their exemplary courage and steadfastness in the face of blackmail, promissory notes and other mouth-watering offers, and reminded them that their reward would come from God and their constituents.
At the meeting which had Governors Bola Tinubu, Orji Uzor Kalu, Boni Haruna, and Abdulkadir Kure of Lagos, Abia, Adamawa and Niger States respectively, Atiku said his position and that of those meeting on the third term issue was backed by over 90 percent of Nigerians, a development he said put them at a clear advantage over the pro-third term apostles.
Even though his problem with Obasanjo began shortly after their inauguration for a second term, Atiku, however, disclosed, in an emotion-laden voice, that an interview he granted THISDAY in August 2005, wherein he alerted the nation of the dangers of third term resulted in the President branding him a “disloyal Vice-President.”
He accused Obasanjo of fanning the embers of ethno-religious sentiments to keep Nigerians perpetually at each others� jugular “just for the achievement of an agenda”, stressing that the issue at stake was the preservation and sustenance of democracy in Nigeria.
In an encounter with THISDAY shortly after the meeting, which lasted till 1am yesterday, the following ensued:
Mr. Vice President, are you not concerned that the PDP could sanction you?
Atiku: “Sanction for what?”
For romancing with opposition politicians, I mean, for anti-party activities?
Atiku: “What anti-party? So, I don’t have a right again under the Nigerian Consti-tution?” he fumed.
Also speaking, one of the invitees to the meeting and former Head of State, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, (rtd.) expressed satisfaction with the turn out. He said it was a manifestation of the maxim that the will of the people cannot be suppressed.
Beaming with smiles, Buhari declared: “We are very happy. I would have been a very frustrated man this night if this meeting didn’t hold. You know what happened at the Abuja Sheraton Hotels and Towers.”
On the way forward, Buhari said: �If Chief Obasanjo will do what (US) President Lyndon Johnson did during the Vietnamese war, then it is good for Nigeria. When the polity was really heated, President Johnson came out and said that he would not seek nomination nor accept any. Immediately the polity stabilised.
“The present President of Brazil was looking for a third term, just as this President (Obasanjo) is, but he was more courageous about it. When he saw that it was not good for his country, he said he would not accept it, he would not look for it and he would make sure that there is free and fair elections, and immediately the polity stabilised.
“If Obasanjo comes out tomorrow to say he will not accept nomination, he will not seek one, he will be amazed how the polity will stabilise. All the parties will rejuvenate and then we will have a very healthy polity.�
It is recalled that Atiku has of late been locked in a battle with the authorities. Last year, Intels, a company he is believed to have substantial interests and located in the Onne Free Zone, was sealed off by the Federal Government.
Recently, his Aide de Camp (ADC) was arrested over some alleged financial dealings. And a few days ago, certain officials of Turaki Vanguard, an organisation coordinating Atiku’s presidential campaign were docked for allegedly running an ‘illegal’ organisation.
Yesterday’s meeting which began at about 10.36 pm Wednesday and ended at about 1.30am was the idea of members of the House of Representatives opposed to the third term agenda.
Among those invited for the meeting slated for 9pm Wednesday at the Abuja Sheraton Hotel and Towers were former Heads of State, Generals Ibrahim Babangida, and Abdulsalami Abubakar, former House Speaker Ghali Na�Abba, former vice President Alex Ekwueme, as well as former Governors Solomon Lar, Abubakar Rimi, Lawal Kaita, C.C. Onoh, Rufus Ada George and Melford Okilo.
Also invited were Professors Wole Soyinka, Ben Nwabueze, Itse Sagay, Esko Toyo, former Inspector-Generals of Police M.D. Yusuf and Mohammed Gambo; Generals (rtd.) T.Y. Danjuma, Alwali Kazir, A.B. Mamman, among others.
However, no sooner than the guests began to arrive that a medley of anti-riot policemen and officials of State Security Service (SSS) sealed off the Ladi Kwali Hall venue of the meeting.
Led by Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commissioner of Police, Mr. Lawrence Alobi, the police said the legislators contravened the Public Order Act by not obtaining 72 hours earlier a police permit for the meeting.
It was the police barricade of the Ladi Kwali Hall that prompted the legislators to shift the venue to Niger State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro district, where the meeting held in the open air.
Apr72006