₦airaland Forum

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and elder statesman, Bode George, has revealed that former President Olusegun Obasanjo originally planned for his former deputy, Atiku Abubakar, to succeed him as president in 2007.

George, however, alleged that Atiku’s actions and political alignment with former Lagos State governor, now President Bola Tinubu, led to the collapse of that plan.

Speaking in an interview with Daily Independent, George said Atiku’s perceived disloyalty to Obasanjo cost him the opportunity to emerge as the PDP presidential candidate in 2007.

“I warned Atiku against collaboration with Tinubu but he refused to listen. He became the first victim and he is still licking his wounds today. He attached himself to Tinubu like phlegm. Whether Baba Obasanjo likes it or not, he (Atiku) would have emerged as the presidential candidate of the PDP in 2007 but he blew that opportunity,” he said.

Describing the development as self-inflicted, George added, “It was self-inflicted injury which Atiku brought upon himself. He was already the governor-elect of Adamawa State then when Baba announced him as running mate.”

He further questioned the origin of the rift between both leaders, saying, “Who created the crisis between him and Obasanjo? Did anyone force Obasanjo when he announced Atiku as his running mate in 1999? I was there in Jos and I saw what happened. I knew many of the old men, the founding fathers who were struggling to be the vice-president. People like Bamanga Tukur, Adamu Ciroma, Solomon Lar, Abubakar Rimi and all those old people.”

George acknowledged Atiku’s role during the PDP primaries, stating, “Atiku did a great job for Baba during the Jos presidential primary, I won't deny that fact. He and his team did a great job at the convention to ensure Obasanjo wins.”

He also disclosed that Obasanjo had a clear succession plan. “Baba told me and I can still repeat it that he will not pick any person older than him as running mate. He said he will not even pick anyone his age mate and that anyone he will pick will be much younger than him so that in eight years, he will be prepared to take over. So, his plans was that Atiku will succeed him after eight years. Nobody would have contested with him in 2007.”

Recounting events after the Jos convention, George said, “Nobody thought it was going to be Atiku. After we woke up in the morning, Baba said ‘Bode, proceed to Lagos. I am going to go through Abuja’. We didn't know he was going to announce his running mate in Abuja. When we finished the convention in Jos, Baba did not announce his running mate.”

He accused Atiku of undermining Obasanjo, adding, “Instead of being patient, loyal and cooperate with his boss, Atiku chose to join forces with Tinubu in Lagos. He was undermining the person who appointed him as vice-president right from day one. That was why he lost out in 2007 and since then, he has been dancing around and jumping from one place to another like a masquerade that has lost his sense of direction. He is reaping what he has sown.”

George also alleged that Tinubu influenced Atiku’s political decisions at the time. “Tinubu was deceiving him then, encouraging him to dump the PDP and pick the AC presidential ticket. Between Atiku and Tinubu, who is in the villa today as president?”

He concluded by advising Atiku to withdraw from active politics. “My advice to him now is to retire home because he is going to be 80 this year. He should forget any presidential ambition and go home to be playing with his grandchildren.”

George warned against political conspiracy and disloyalty, stating, “Hypocrisy and conspiracy is a terrible thing. I'm saying this in order to allow the younger generation coming to know that that is not the way to grow.”

Atiku, who later contested the 2007 presidential election under the Action Congress (AC), lost the election, which was eventually won by the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua of the PDP.

Otamendi99:
Story. OBJ will never ever consider Atiku as Successor. He Atiku is so ambitious and greedy. Bode is Old.

Otamendi99:
Story. OBJ will never ever consider Atiku as Successor. He Atiku is so ambitious and greedy. Bode is Old.

samwash:
If that is the real issue that cause the clash between Obj & Atiku, you cannot be a friend to my enemy, at the same time be my friend.
Obj never liked Tinubu from day one.
The second time Atiku lost his presidential ambition was him conspiring against PDP and Goodluck Jonathan administration, he sold out PDP and among those that gave this APC power, he has already sold his birthright.

bolaayenimo:
Don't forget Bode is an insider in PDP and very close to OBJ

Otamendi99:
Story. OBJ will never ever consider Atiku as Successor. He Atiku is so ambitious and greedy. Bode is Old.

Odin13:
Kid
Someone in the middle of it all is telling you facts of what happened .. youre doubting..
So let’s hear your version since na you be obasanjo

Let’s be honest where were you 99’

GUNITGuy:
He did the same thing against Jonathan ...Atiku could have backed Jonathan ...He ran to meet Tinubu again and align with Buhari ...Buhari promised 1term while Atiku completes second...He was played again...
After Buhari's one term Buhari went for another term that's when his eyes clear he ran to PDP again bought the Delegates in Port Harcourt...Wike accepted him but backed Tambuwal ..Tambuwal betrayed Wike and backed Atiku..Atiku refused to make Wike Vice President instead went for Obi in

2019, this angered Wike like after abandoning the party he immediately returns and wants to be calling the shots ...Wike proceeded to form an alliance with Tinubu but still in PDP,,, 2023 Wike demanded for the PDP presidency to be ceded to the south but was resisted by Atiku and the team that led that demands was Okowa ...Only for Okowa to become Atikus Vice ....
Obi left the party unannounced just to jump to Labour Party ...
Wike worked tirelessly for a southerner to become the President in the Person President Bola
Tinubu ...
Ok they refused he made the final demand of the National Chairman to be ceded to the South they refused ...But the chairman was given to Ayorchia Ayu from Benue
Atiku wants to make an all North Domination of PDP with south as his stooge ...
If you don't appreciate what Wike did if you're from the South you need to check your Brain ..
We are facing an insecurity crisis emerging from the north even though they aren't in Power just imagine when they are in Power what it would look like ...

Otamendi99:
Story. OBJ will never ever consider Atiku as Successor. He Atiku is so ambitious and greedy. Bode is Old.

onatisi:
i remember very well the role atiku played in making sure tafa balogun the inspector general of police then didnt follow obj orders on lagos state in 2003 . That was the main reason obj first action after reelection was to punish tafa by first imprisoning him and removing him from office

Okoyeeboz:
Tafa Balogun was removed in 2025, 2 years after OBJ's reelection.

CP Young Arebamen was the one retired for not following orders.

Otamendi99:
Story. OBJ will never ever consider Atiku as Successor. He Atiku is so ambitious and greedy. Bode is Old.