Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has refuted allegations of betraying President Bola Tinubu during their political alliance in 2007. Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, Atiku clarified that rather than betraying Tinubu, he stood up to then-President Olusegun Obasanjo to ensure that Lagos State remained under Tinubu’s control in the aftermath of the 2003 elections.
Atiku, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, addressed the issue raised by a presidential spokesman that he had betrayed Tinubu by requesting the President’s academic records from Chicago State University.
He recounted the events of 2003 when the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) took control of all South-Western states except Lagos. Atiku claimed that he intervened to prevent Obasanjo from taking over Lagos, saying, “I stood between Obasanjo and himself (Tinubu) and I said no, you (Obasanjo) can’t take over Lagos. Leave it, and he (Obasanjo) left it. So, who is indebted to whom? Is it me or Bola Ahmed Tinubu? I vehemently deny that I stabbed Tinubu in the back.”
Atiku went on to explain that his political relationship with Tinubu ended when Tinubu proposed a Muslim-Muslim ticket for the 2007 election. Atiku said that he and other senior figures objected to this proposal, as it didn’t reflect the diversity of Nigeria. He emphasized the need for a government that reflects the country’s multi-ethnic and multi-religious composition.
Regarding the recent controversy over President Tinubu’s academic records, Atiku’s legal team had requested the release of those records from Chicago State University (CSU). The CSU complied with the court’s ruling and provided the academic records. The Presidency subsequently stated that the documents vindicated the President and confirmed him as an alumnus of the university.
Atiku is expected to file an application at the Supreme Court on the matter, using the obtained academic records as part of his election appeal. His actions in seeking transparency on this issue reflect his commitment to the electoral process and adherence to the principles of accountability and integrity.