Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed that his belief in the Nigeria project prompted his decision to back Shehu Yar’Adua ahead of Chief Olu-Falae in the pre-election preparation for the 1993 presidential election.
Obasanjo gave the explanation at the launch of ‘Amazing Grace’, a biography of former Oyo State Governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala on Thursday in Ibadan.
The late Yar’Adua was a Fulani man from Katsina while Falae hails from Ondo.
He said that Yar’Adua and Falae were both his close aides and friends, making the decision more difficult.
“In 1992, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua came to me to request me to intervene on his behalf with Chief Adedibu. It was the usual thing I would do but for Shehu.
“I went to the chief, meeting him one on one for the first time and he received me warmly. And I said to him, I know both Olu Falae and Shehu Yar’Adua very well as they both worked directly under me. Olu as Permanent Secretary and Shehu as my political number 2.
“They are both very good. But if we are looking at the entire Nigeria picture, it should be Shehu before Olu; If however, it is purely Yoruba issue, it should be Olu before Shehu.
“If my information is correct that you people are considering Nigeria and not just Yorubaland, then I will recommend Shehu. That led to Chief Adedibu changing his support in favour of Shehu Yar’Adua in 1992,” Obasanjo said.
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