How Atiku saved Tinubu from Obasanjo – Phrank Shaibu narrates
Atiku Abubakar’s Past Intervention Saved Bola Tinubu’s Governorship, Says ADC Official
The Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, Phrank Shaibu, disclosed on Friday that Abubakar played a pivotal role in preserving Bola Tinubu’s position as governor of Lagos State in 2003.
According to Shaibu, Atiku intervened to prevent then-President Olusegun Obasanjo from removing Tinubu during a contentious political period. This conflict arose from Obasanjo’s grievances with the Alliance for Democracy party, which was popular in the South-West region of Nigeria.
Tinubu served as governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007 as a member of the Alliance for Democracy. He faced significant challenges when Obasanjo’s administration halted federal allocations to Lagos State. This action was taken in response to Tinubu’s creation of 37 local council development areas in addition to the existing 20 local government areas, which Obasanjo deemed unconstitutional.
The Lagos State government contested the withholding of funds in court. The Supreme Court ultimately ruled that the federal government’s action was unlawful; however, Obasanjo continued to withhold the allocations for the remainder of his term. The funds were eventually released by former President Umaru Yar’Adua.
Shaibu stated that Atiku’s intervention was crucial in ensuring Tinubu’s re-election. He noted that Obasanjo was determined to weaken the Alliance for Democracy’s control in the South-West, successfully ousting five of the six AD governors during this period, with Tinubu being the sole survivor.
In a post shared on social media platform X, Shaibu emphasized, “When the Obasanjo political machine was determined to finish the AD across the South-West, Atiku drew the line at Lagos.” He added that it was Atiku’s actions that protected Tinubu from a similar fate as the other governors.
Shaibu underscored the historical significance of this intervention, stating, “That is not folklore. It is a defining episode in the political history of the Fourth Republic.” He cautioned against attempts to reshape the narrative of the relationship between Tinubu and Atiku, emphasizing the importance of historical accuracy.
