Don’t Trust Your Deputy: The Untold Story That Fractured the Obasanjo-Atiku Alliance

The high-stakes theater that is Nigerian politics, is set for new converstions on power, loyalty, and the devastating sting of betrayal.

A sensational excerpt from the highly anticipated upcoming book, How to Win Elections in Nigeria by Seun Oloketuyi, pulls back the curtain on one of the most volatile chapters in the nation’s democratic history. Recounting a tense encounter during the political crisis surrounding the 2003 presidential election, former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke details an informal meeting of Nigeria’s leaders at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, involving former military Heads of State Ibrahim Babangida, Abdulsalami Abubakar, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and his then-deputy, Atiku Abubakar. The explosive inside account culminates in a blunt, unforgettable warning from Babangida that would alter the course of their political alliance.

According to Duke, the relationship between Obasanjo and Atiku had become increasingly strained as the president prepared to seek a second term.

Atiku, he said, was making moves that raised concerns about whether he would continue to support Obasanjo’s re-election bid. The growing tension eventually became a major political issue within the PDP.

Duke recalled that at one point, 10 governors, including himself, met with then-PDP National Chairman Solomon Lar to discuss possible alternatives for the vice-presidential slot.

The situation, he said, weighed heavily on Obasanjo.

Duke remembered receiving a late-night call from the president, who complained about what he saw as a betrayal by his deputy.

“I urged him to remain calm and promised to fly to Abuja the next morning,” Duke recalled.

What followed was an unusual meeting at the Presidential Villa.

According to Duke, Atiku had arranged for Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar to meet with Obasanjo.

During the meeting, Babangida reportedly reminded Obasanjo of agreements that had been reached following his release from prison. He also argued that convincing northern political leaders to support Obasanjo’s second-term bid would be difficult.

Obasanjo, Duke said, asked whether that was their final position or whether there was still room for negotiation.

Babangida reportedly said there was still room for further discussions.

But according to Duke, the most revealing moment came after the meeting appeared to have ended.

As the men were leaving Obasanjo’s private study, Babangida reportedly said he had forgotten his keys inside and asked Obasanjo to walk back with him.

Once the two men were alone, Babangida allegedly dropped his diplomatic tone and delivered a blunt warning.

“I warned you not to trust that your deputy,” he reportedly told Obasanjo.

And when they returned to the others, Babangida looked at Atiku before turning back to Obasanjo.

“This one cannot rule Nigeria,” he allegedly said.

For Duke, the encounter offered a glimpse into just how deep the distrust between Obasanjo and Atiku had become, and how seriously the political struggle was being discussed behind closed doors.

Looking back, Duke said the episode also reinforced one of the lessons he learnt from his time in politics: “Betrayal is a very crazy thing in politics.”

This untold story, chronicled in Oloketuyi’s How to Win Elections in Nigeria, is part of Duke’s wider reflections on power, loyalty, and the private political battles that have shaped Nigeria’s history.