Ex-Reps chief whip disputes Obasanjo’s account of Na’Abba’s leadership, recalls impeachment crisis

Former Chief Whip of Nigeria's House of Representatives, Abubakar Bwari, has publicly challenged former President Olusegun Obasanjo's recent narrative concerning the late Speaker Ghali Na'Abba. Bwari asserts that Obasanjo's account of impeachment attempts during the Fourth Republic is both inaccurate and unfair to the deceased lawmaker. The former chief whip, who served from 1999 to 2007, stated he was in a unique position to correct the record, having been at the 'nerve centre' of legislative deliberations. Obasanjo had alleged in a letter that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar offered Na'Abba N5 million to initiate impeachment proceedings against him. Bwari dismissed this claim as implausible and contrary to the constitutional impeachment process. He questioned the notion that Nigeria's presidency could be influenced by such a sum, emphasizing that removing a president requires a two-thirds majority in both legislative chambers. Bwari further described Na'Abba as a principled leader committed to democratic ideals, making him unlikely to engage in a 'transactional attempt' to oust a president. He also contested Obasanjo's portrayal of Atiku Abubakar's role, stating that the vice president often acted as Obasanjo's emissary to de-escalate tensions between the executive and the legislature, rather than encouraging impeachment efforts.

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Setting the Record Straight: A Gentle Correction to Obasanjo’s Claims on Ghali Na’Abba.