Former governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, has disclosed how the South African presidency got wind of a possible military coup in Nigeria ahead of the 2003 presidential election.
NEWSNGR reports that Duke recounted the ordeal in a soon-to-be-released book, ‘How to Win Elections in Nigeria’ by Seun Oloketuyi.
According to excerpts of the book obtained by The Cable, the political tension at that period had become so intense that it attracted the attention of South African officials.
Duke, who governed Cross River from 1999 to 2007, spoke about the fierce political battle between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his deputy, Atiku Abubakar.
He recalled that Abdulkadir Kure, then governor of Niger State, received an unexpected call from Bangumzi Sifingo, South Africa’s high commissioner to Nigeria.
The diplomat reportedly told Kure that Thabo Mbeki, the South African president at the time, wanted to speak with him.
When Mbeki eventually called, Duke said the South African president reportedly asked Kure if it was true that Nigeria could face a military coup if Obasanjo sought and won a second term in office.
The question shocked Kure, and he asked Mbeki where he got the information from. According to Duke’s account, Mbeki disclosed the source of the information.
Concerned by what he had heard, Kure reportedly went straight to the presidential villa in Abuja to brief Obasanjo.
According to Duke, the fact that the issue had reached Mbeki showed how seriously the political crisis was being viewed beyond Nigeria.
Duke recalled receiving a late-night call from Obasanjo during the crisis.
He said the president was frustrated by what he considered his deputy’s betrayal and was even contemplating abandoning his bid for a second term.
