Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday said he would respond to the claims made by his erstwhile deputy, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, on their sour political relationship, in his soon-to-be published book.
Abubakar had, in an interview published by an Abuja-based Hausa language newspaper, revealed that he “blasted” his former boss after he (Obasanjo) brought out a Quran and attempted to get him (Atiku) to swear an oath of loyalty during one of their arguments, faulting his possession of the holy book since he was not a Muslim.
Atiku also claimed that Obasanjo had visited his residence to plead for his support for a second term but that he snubbed him. He, however, said after much persistence and insistence by the former President, he granted him audience.
When contacted for a response to his former deputy’s claims, Obasanjo, who spoke through his media aide, Mr. Vitalis Ortese, simply said, “Wait for our book.”
Also, Obasanjo’s Chief of Staff, Mr. Victor Durodola, said the former President did not want to respond to the things Atiku said in the interview.
“There is nothing to respond to. What was published was taken out of context, from an interview. He (Atiku) did not come to say it directly, so it is not something we can respond. My principal does not want to respond to it,” he said.
When asked if the claims by Atiku were factual, Durodola said, “There is nothing to correct.”
–SUNDAY PUNCH
