Former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido has said that he once had to beg late President Umaru Yar’Adua to avoid a confrontation with ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo. On pages 257 and 258 of his autobiography, titled “Being True To Myself,” which was presented to the public on May 13, 2025, Lamido recalled an event which gave the impression that the deceased was set to take on Obasanjo.
Speaking via his autobiography, Sule said that he drew Yar’Adua’s attention to a National Assembly debate on the controversial USD $16 billion National Independent Power Project, NIPP, many years ago, a debate that made it seem like Obasanjo embezzled the fund and abandoned the job.
According to him, he visited the Presidential Villa to beg him not to fight with Obasanjo because he was aware that Umaru Yar’Adua wouldn’t have sat in the Presidential seat without OBJ’s help.
He revealed that he visited Yar’Adua’s office to beg him to reconsider any potential battle, urging him to remember that it goes against his religion and moral background to show ingratitude to anyone who has been with him in his hour of need.
Lamido disclosed that he had to be calmed down eventually as Yar’Adua explained how he had told ADC, Lt. Col Mustapha, to ensure any issue concerning Obasanjo and his travels was acceded without recourse to him.
Read Also: God Is Watching Politicians Who Don’t Deliver On Their Campaign Promises – Senator Shuaib Salisu
“As I approached the President’s desk, Yar’Adua said, ‘Sule what is agitating you?’ Almost going down on my knees, consumed by emotions, I said, ‘Sir, in the name of God, please I beg you, do not fight Obasanjo.
You are coming from a very strong, powerful political and moral background. It is neither in our religion nor culture to show ingratitude to one who has been with you in your hour of need and who stood against all forces to ensure you attained this very office you are in.
He said, ‘Sule calm down. Sit down.’ He picked his intercom and summoned his ADC, Lt. Col Mustapha.
When the ADC entered, the President asked him point blank, ‘ADC, what were my instructions to you with respect to Obasanjo?
The ADC replied, ‘Sir, you asked me to accede to any issue either within or outside Nigeria including his travels, without recourse to you.”
President Yar’Adua then turned to me and said, ‘Sule, are you comforted now? I said ‘Yes Sir, and bade him farewell,” he said.
