Former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has openly admitted that he made a mistake by opposing a constitutional provision for a rotational presidency, a proposal put forward by the late Dr. Alex Ekwueme during the Abacha-era constitutional conference.
Speaking in an interview with Arise TV, Atiku recalled the heated debate that shaped that pivotal moment in Nigeria’s political history, saying, “Let me tell you what happened at the constitutional conference under Abacha. There was an argument between the late Dr. Alex Ekwueme and myself, with myself representing the late Shehu Yaradua’s group. Dr. Ekwueme proposed a provision in the constitution for a rotational presidency, and I was leading the group that opposed it. And because we controlled about 60 to 70% of the delegates, Dr. Ekwueme’s amendment did not go through.”
Atiku said the full weight of that decision only became clear to him years later, and that he publicly acknowledged his regret at Dr. Ekwueme’s funeral.
He admitted that supporting the amendment would have been the right thing to do, as a rotational presidency would have ensured that every geopolitical zone in the country had a fair chance at the nation’s highest office.
He described it as the most equitable provision that could have been written into Nigeria’s constitution……See More
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