In another allegation arising from his latest memoir, My Watch, former president Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has said that a "cabal" surrounding his successor in office, late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, framed corruption charges against his daughter, Iyabo while she served in the senate just to take revenge against him because of his personal views against them.
"My adversaries tried other means to get to me," the ex-president said. "If Obasanjo could not be cut down to size, they must have thought, what about those close to him, including his daughter? When Senator Iyabo, my daughter, was accused of corruption, I took my time to have a serious interview with her on what exactly had transpired. She briefed me in detail and I was satisfied.
"But I did not stop there. I spoke with the Senate President, who also briefed me and assured me that Iyabo had not committed any offence as he had personally looked into the matter. I was again reassured but did not stop there. I talked to another senator, Mrs. Ekaette, who was a member of the health committee of which Iyabo was chairman. Mrs. Ekaette again satisfied me with her explanation. I was advised to talk to President Yar'Adua but I refused to do this, especially as I was told he was expecting me to. Instead, I advised Iyabo to hand the matterover to Chief Afe Babalola, a lawyer and friend, to deal with it through the court process. She was discharged and acquitted by the court.
"The fact that my ordeal, and that of my daughter, occurred under the administration of President Yar'Adua, who was brought into power by God through me, did not surprise me. I have always held to a belief that any person who expects commendation, praise, eulogy, or credit from any human being might die a frustrated wretch."
Obasanjo went on to name names by listing some members of the "cabal" as Tanimu Yakubu Kurfi and Baba Kingibe who were "aided and supported by two governors - Bukola Saraki and James Ibori - for their own personal and selfish reasons".
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