I am Not Responsible for Your Retirement- Atiku Tells Oba of Lagos

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has denied any involvement in the forceful retirement of the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, from the Nigerian Policein 2002.

The oba had accused Atiku and one other as those who prevailed on former President Olusegun Obasanjo to get him retired after convincing him that getting him (Akiolu) out of the police force is the surest way for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to take over Lagos.

Atiku,in a swift reaction, said he never at any time discussed such an issue with his former boss.

In a statement released from his Media Office, Atiku said he never supervised the Nigeria police or the Police Service Commission (PSC) and therefore, could not have taken part in any alleged plot to force the oba out of public service for committing no offence.

Atiku further said as the vice president, he had no power over the police or the PSC to remove anybody for whatever reason.

He further insisted that he was not familiar with Oba Akiolu at the time the latter was removed from the police.

He explained that he respects the monarch and added that he remains innocent of the allegations the Oba made against him.