- Donald Duke revealed Mbeki was alerted about a possible coup in Nigeria
- The warning came ahead of the 2003 presidential election
- Duke said Obasanjo was also considering dropping his re-election bid
Former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke has revealed that South African authorities became aware of fears over a possible military coup in Nigeria ahead of the 2003 presidential election.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that Duke disclosed the account in an upcoming book, How to Win Elections in Nigeria, written by Seun Oloketuyi.
According to excerpts from the book, the political crisis surrounding the 2003 election had become so serious that it attracted the attention of South African officials.
Duke, who governed Cross River State between 1999 and 2007, recounted the intense political dispute between then-President Olusegun Obasanjo and his Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar.
He said the situation came to the attention of Abdulkadir Kure, who was then governor of Niger State, after he received an unexpected telephone call from South Africa’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Bangumzi Sifingo.
Duke said Sifingo informed Kure that then-South African President Thabo Mbeki wanted to speak directly with him.
During the subsequent conversation, Mbeki reportedly asked Kure whether there was any truth to reports that Nigeria could experience a military takeover if Obasanjo contested and won a second presidential term.
Kure was reportedly surprised by the question and asked the South African leader how he had obtained such information. Mbeki then disclosed the source of the report, according to Duke’s account.
Duke said Kure, concerned by the development, immediately travelled to the Presidential Villa in Abuja to inform Obasanjo about the conversation.
For Duke, the episode demonstrated how deeply Nigeria’s political tensions had resonated internationally, particularly among other African governments.
He also recalled receiving a late-night telephone call from Obasanjo during the period of heightened political tension.
According to Duke, the former president was deeply frustrated by what he regarded as disloyalty from his deputy and was at one point considering withdrawing from the race for a second term.
The revelations offer a glimpse into the political tensions surrounding the 2003 presidential electi
