Wikileaks, the anti-secret website has revealed the extent political office seekers can go to damage one another, in order to achieve their political objective. In one such move, an aide to former military president, Ibrahim Babangida, made allegations before the American Consular General that former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former Lagos governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and even the Odua Peoples’ Congress had links with the terrorist organization, Al-Qaeda.

The lies were apparently told in order to get America’s support for Babangida’s presidential ambition then. The American Consular noted in the cable dated 13 August 2005 that it should be taken as an effort to damage political opponents’ reputations. The cable read in part:

S E C R E T Section 01 Of 02 Lagos 001277

Subject: Nigeria: Reported Al Qa’ida Activity

Classified By: Consul General Brian Browne for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)

1. (S) Summary. Professor Ukandi Damachi, a long-time Mission contact and close advisor to former head-of-state Ibrahim Babangida, recently told us about a chance encounter he had with pro-Obasanjo members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)executive. These partisans alleged an association between Vice President Atiku, Lagos Governor Tinubu and Al-Qaeda. According to Damachi, the PDP members told him the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), a loose and curious amalgam of some Yoruba politicians, street thugs, and other ne’er-do-wells, founded in the late 1990s, had received funding from Al-Qaeda. The PDP official claimed both Vice President Atiku and Lagos Governor Tinubu were involved in this transaction, which was intended to finance the OPC destabilization of southern Nigeria. Damachi maintained the PDP members said President Obasanjo was aware of these events. Vice President Atiku and Governor Tinubu, both in Obasanjo’s doghouse, have been long-time allies and are in ongoing discussions about forming a presidential ticket for the 2007 elections. This information has not/not been corroborated and may be intended to shape USG thinking on Nigeria’s presidential aspirants. End Summary.

2. (S) Damachi asserted that he encountered senior PDP leaders July 22 at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos. The party figures were awaiting the arrival of PDP Chairman Ahmadu Ali and President Obasanjo. Damachi told the Consul General that the PDP officials, including the party’s vice-chairman for the Southwest, began to discuss this matter openly with him. Then they also raised this issue with party chairman Ali who arrived at the airport before the President. Ali purportedly expressed both his and the President’s awareness of the alleged transaction. Ali, however, terminated this discussion, asserting that the groups’ top project at the moment was the impending PDP political rally in Lagos. After the rally, they would discuss this sensitive issue.

3. (S) Damachi asserted the PDP officials told him that Atiku and Tinubu were supporting this Al-Qaeda/OPC nexus out of political desperation. Both men would likely have their 2007 national political ambitions dashed by President Obasanjo. In response to this likely predicament, they would attempt to make parts of Nigeria ungovernable, in hopes of crippling

Obasanjo or even forcing his ouster. In the midst of the resultant turmoil, they would be able to revive their ambitions for the Presidency and Vice Presidency.

4. (C) Damachi also heard from his PDP interlocutors that President Obasanjo planned to dump Vice President Atiku in early 2006 on corruption charges and that this alleged Al-Qaeda


http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2011/09/07/wikileaks-ibb-links-tinubu-atiku-opc-with-al-qaeda-to-realise-his-presidential-ambition/

This just goes to show that Atiku could be behind Boko Haram as well.

na waooo so atiku and tinumbu/OPC are inflated with al-qaeda jesus wept

Wikileaks, the anti-secret website has revealed the extent political office seekers can go to damage one another, in order to achieve their political objective. In one such move, an aide to former military president, Ibrahim Babangida, made allegations before the American Consular General that former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former Lagos governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and even the Odua Peoples’ Congress had links with the terrorist organization, Al-Qaeda.

I can't believe that anyone of sane mind will believe anything that comes from camp IBB

Its a stale news sha, never trusted that Atiku and the mad-man-in-lagos

High_Chief:

Its a stale news sha, never trusted that Atiku and the mad-man-in-lagos

Only a fo0l will trust what comes out of IBB's Mouth

Lmao

Very interesting tale.

Full cablegate btw here: http://thestreetjournal.org/2011/09/wikileaks-ibb%E2%80%99s-aide-called-atiku-tinubu-opc-al-qaeda-to-get-us-support/#more-1463

The Americans concluded thus;

6. (C) Without any further corroboration, we view these charges with a dose of skepticism. However, we relay them in the interest of conveying information received about any possible Al Qa’ida presence in Nigeria.

There are a few points in this tale that tend to make it suspect. Both Atiku and Tinubu have ample political war-chests; they would not need Al Qa’ida or any other entity to give them 2 million dollars to fund a local group. Second, they can communicate directly with the OPC or other such militant groups throughout the country. Bringing in an exogenous agent like

Al Qa’ida adds little value except the risk of global opprobrium. Also, the linking of Atiku and Tinubu, two of Obasanjo’s biggest political headaches, in such a terrible scheme is almost too neat politically.

They were not fooled, they know Nigeria more than our leaders.

okada_man:

The Americans concluded thus;

They were not fooled, they know Nigeria more than our leaders.

They were smarter than our former president.

It would be interesting to see what the self labeled "agbonivbasket' has to say.

Wow! I wish i could kill them all.

okada_man:

The Americans concluded thus;

They were not fooled, they know Nigeria more than our leaders.

Indeed. But Nigeria isn't that complicated a country to understand, hehe

On reading this, is anybody surprised that 419 really took off in Nigeria under Babangida?  The man is nothing but a devious, two faced criminal who would deny himself in the mirror if he believes that it would enable him to achieve his aims.  He is a classic example of an arrogant local champion with an exaggerated sense of his importance, who always fumbles when he tries to operate on the international scene  with seasoned and more sophisticated operators.   It just shows up once again the quality and lack of exposure of our leaders.

ak47mann:

na waooo so atiku and tinumbu/OPC are inflated with al-qaeda jesus wept

Come on! how can you believe this. Isn't it obvious that lies are being concocted
to suit IBB ?

Please tell me you are just being sarcastic.