– Atiku Abubakar has replied to Oba Akiolu’s accusation that he forced him out of the police
– The Oba of Lagos had said the former vice president was among those who advised Obasanjo
– Atiku said he holds the Oba of Lagos in the highest esteem and he is totally innocent
Atiku Abubakar
Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos earlier suggested Atiku Abubakar was behind his forced exit from the Nigeria Police Force.
While speaking at the Administration of Justice Summit organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Justice on Monday, January 30, Mr Akiolu alleged that Abubakar played a prominent role in convincing Olusegun Obasanjo, to retire him from service.
He said: “I remember that I was a victim of that circumstance; then Abubakar Atiku, Daura, and others advised ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo that if he wants to win Lagos in 2003 presidential election, I must be removed. It was written on paper.
“And in fairness to Obasanjo, he argued that he knew nothing about it. And he had to send for the Inspector General because the then Chief of Staff challenged the plan to retire me. So for someone to sit at the Police Service Commission and determine who retires from the police is unfair. This is not how to run a very efficient police force.”
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However, in a statement issued by his media office on Tuesday, January 31, the former vice president denied the allegation. Below is the full statement:
“Former Vice President and chieftain of All Progressives Congress, Atiku Abubakar debunks the accusations by the Oba of Lagos, Rilwanu Akiolu, that he and others were responsible for his retirement from the police force in 2002.
“Reacting to the Oba’s allegations published in a section of the media, the former Vice President says in a statement by his media office in Abuja on Tuesday, 31 January that at no time did he suggest nor propose the removal of Akiolu from the police force.
“The statement explains that Atiku never supervised the Nigeria Police or the Police Service Commission, and therefore, couldn’t have been part of any alleged plot to force the Oba out of public service for committing no offence.
“The former Vice President also explains that he had no power over the Police Force or the Police Service Commission to remove anybody for whatever reason from office without committing any offence.
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“Atiku Abubakar emphasises that he was not familiar with Oba Akiolu as at the time the monarch was removed from the Police Force.
“The Turakin Adamawa affirms that he holds the Oba of Lagos in the highest esteem, but he is totally innocent of the allegations the monarch made against at him.”
360naze
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