Jennifer Douglas Abubakar, one of the wives of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has opened up on why she is requesting for divorce from the politician.

In a statement titled “Putting the records straight,” Jennifer explained she had asked Atiku for a divorce on June 26, 2021, “in light of the breakdown of our marriage”

Jennifer however clarified that she didn’t request divorce because Atiku married a new wife.

She stated that some of Atiku’s friends tried to mediate and stop the divorce but their efforts failed.

She explained that the core reason for the divorce was disagreement over her continued stay in the United Kingdom among other “long-standing issues”.

Jennifer further disclosed that she was already aware that Atiku had a new wife even though he did not inform her.

She also dismissed claims of attempting to take over properties belonging to the former presidential candidate in Nigeria and Dubai.

Read her full statement:

“For some time now, especially in the last few weeks, there has been a whole lot of rumours in circulation about the state of my marriage to his Excellency Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Waziri Adamawa, GCON. The stories got more vicious as they continued to circulate. I deem it necessary to defend myself against the calculated propaganda to malign my character, position me in a bad light and damage my name. Without resorting to nonsensical talk, I would address the two key issues at hand:

“(1) That I asked for a divorce because His Excellency got married again.

“(2) That I sold his Excellency’s house in Dubai.

“That I asked for a divorce because His Excellency got married again

“• On 26 June, 2021, I asked His Excellency to grant me a divorce in light of the breakdown of our marriage. And, during that period, I told his Excellency that I remain at his Excellency’s service to continue to assist him in his activities even If I am no longer married to him. Suffice it to say that several friends of his Excellency tried to mediate in this matter. I thank them most graciously and remain grateful for their efforts, Peter Okocha, Senator Ben Obi, Tunde Ayeni, Captain Yahaya and Senator Ben Bruce.

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“• The core reason for the divorce was disagreement over my continued stay in the United Kingdom to look after my children and several other long-standing issues. I needed to play the role of a mother at this time to the children who have gone through the absence of both father and mother growing up; especially, with the passage of my elder sister who used to look after them. Furthermore, in light of Covid times, choosing to stay with the children was nonnegotiable. However, in line with Northern culture, allow the new wife to take up the baton so I can also focus on giving the kids more care.

“• Although we were not informed officially according to northern/Islamic culture, I knew about his Excellency’s new wife from the time Excellency was dating her and when his Excellency eventually married her. I had graciously invited our new wife to my son’s wedding in Dubai in 2018 without any ill feelings and congratulated his Excellency when our new wife delivered a child.

“• I was already aware that His Excellency had gotten married to our new wife but that did not deter me from supporting His Excellency and indeed, we went through a most rigorous electioneering campaign and garnered massive support for his election in 2019.

“That His Excellency married a new wife was never the cause of our problem as many have said. His Excellency is a Muslim and I have never questioned him about his wives or intended.

“I hope this brings this issue to rest as I did not leave the house because of his new marriage.

“• The Matrimonial home in Asokoro which we reside was gifted to me by him even before we moved into that home from a previous residence. Indeed, His Excellency caused his Private Secretary to process the DEED of assignment documents for the house, which he did and handed me the documents. I then commenced processing the title to the property.

“• During the initial mediation discussion, Excellency denied that he gifted the house even after I showed him the document with the signature of his aide, his Excellency asked me to show him the deed of gift. When I asked him, ‘Where will me and the kids stay when we come to Nigeria?’, he told me that since I am the one that asked for a divorce, I should find a place to stay and I later moved out.

“• His Excellency further gave orders to have my nephews leaving with me in the house ejected within an hour of his order and gave orders that I and my family members are not allowed to enter the house. Hence, during my last visit to Nigeria in December 2021, I stayed at a hotel. I have long released these assets to him and hereby reiterate that the titles are at his disposal to pick up whenever he deems fit

“• There has been a lot of speculation on the Dubai home. For a while now, I had purposely stayed away from Dubai until I took custody of that property in September 2021 after his Excellency reneged on his word to give the current value of the said property in exchange. When I came to Nigeria, in early September 2021. I asked to have a private conversation with His Excellency. During that conversation, I informed his Excellency that once I get back to the United Kingdom, I will go to Dubai and take over the house. He subsequently departed for his medical trip to Germany refusing to address any of the issues I privately wanted to conclude with him outside of third parties.

“• I subsequently travelled to Dubai, and took custody of the said property. Once I did that, on 18 September 2021, His Excellency sent me a text and I quote “I hear you have moved to Dubai to take over the house. I am still in Germany for my medicals. Make sure all my properties including (redacted) are intact so I can collect all my properties. I wish you well’. I responded to him: “ Excellency, I am left with no other option as we need to get on with our lives amicably. I hope your medicals are coming up good. I wish you well too’.

“• On 19th September, 2021 in response to his text that I am not being amicable and I quote ”Good morning, with due respect, Excellency, I told you on Saturday before you left for Germany, that I was going back to UK, take [our son] back for his test, then come to Dubai. I reiterated that day the need for an amicable resolution. I maintain that stance and remain at your service Your Excellency’.

“• Further on Tuesday, 21 September, 2021, I asked His Excellency in another text whether he wanted me to pack up his clothes and give to Rahim (his driver) since the driver on his instructions was moving his cars. I also asked Excellency in that text whether he wanted me to have Rahim pack up his office. Then his Excellency sent me a text back and asked: ‘so its true you have sold the villa?’ Subsequently, His Excellency sent the driver to take possession of all the cars. The truth subsists with regards to the Dubai house. I will make no further comments on it because it is the subject of litigation filed by his Excellency against me.

“Since this incident, I fear for my safety and that of my kids. His Excellency’s security operatives especially Ibro and others, have been making threats and calling my relatives, friends and staff and searching for my assets to seize. For that reason, I have exited my law firm, sold all my assets and moved abroad until peace reigns.

“I have done nothing wrong except to ask for a divorce and it pains me that I have to use this medium to address thorny issues but fear that at this point, I would have to put my side of the story on record. It is obvious that a campaign of calumny to total discredit and put me in bad light has begun.

“Despite all that has happened, I reiterate that I asked for a quiet divorce which if it had been granted, we would not be where we are today.

“Divorce is never an easy process for both parties. I reiterate that I hope we can settle our issues privately and I would remain at His Excellency’s service should he need my help, anytime.”

The Secretary of Kupoluyi Royal Family aka Almaroof, Prince Abdulwasiu Almaroof, has declared Lagos Council Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya (aka MC Oluomo) is qualified to be a monarch in Oshodi.

This is contrary to the statement credited to Chairman, Oshodi-Tapa Chieftaincy Family, Maroof-deen Oshodi, that Akinsanya has no right to the throne because he was not a member of the family.

At a briefing with other members of the royal house in Oshodi, Prince Almaroof said Akinsanya’s grandmother was Alhaja Shadia Almroof.

“He (Akinsanya) is from the Kupoluyi Royal Family and that is not contestable. The family held a meeting recently and picked him (Akinsanya) as our candidate for the Oshodi monarch. We expect other ruling houses to also announce their candidates. From those candidates, a monarch would eventually emerge,” he said.

Read Also: MC Oluomo: From unionist to monarch?

Almaroof said Oshodi has two ruling houses – Ajenifuja and Kupoluyi, gazetted and recognised by the government.

“So far, in Oshodi, we have had eleven Baales but out of these Baales, only two were recognised by the state government. They are from the Ajenifuja and Kupoluyi families. This made the Kupoluyi family a prominent ruling house in Oshodi,“ he said.

He added that the Supreme Court ruling confirmed Arota Ologun as among the ruling houses in Oshodi.

“The first prominent kingmaker in Oshodi who happens to be my grandfather, Pa Salaudeen Almoroof Ewa, is also from the Kupoluyi ruling house. This makes our family entitled to the stool. Akinsanya is a bonafide member of Kupoluyi family. The family of Pa Salaudeen Almoroof known as Arota Ologun comprises 13 branches, one of the children is Alhaja Sadia Almaroof who gave birth to MC Oluomo’s father,” he stated.

• ‘Ego, perception fueling division’

• Panel with 47 petitions asks for more time

Ego and perception are factors responsible for the division in the All Progressives Congress (APC), the ruling party’s Reconciliation Committee said yesterday.

Caretaker Committee Chairman Mai Mala Buni also identified a lack of unity, the elevation of personal interest over national interest, and the absence of internal democracy as obstacles to unity and stability.

Reconciliation Panel chair Senator Abdullahi Adamu and Buni, who is also Yobe State governor, spoke yesterday during the submission of the report of Reconciliation Panel to the caretaker committee.

The duo agreed that the resolution of the crises in state chapters is critical to a peaceful convention on February 26.

The submission of the report tops the list of guidelines set by the party ahead of its National Convention billed for February 26.

According to the timetable and schedule of activities for the convention released by the Caretaker Committee, the sale of forms for party offices will commence on February 14.

The party plans to consider and adopt reports of state congresses today. The inauguration of the state executives is scheduled for tomorrow.

The sale of forms to aspirants for national offices will be on February 14 at the party National Secretariat while submission of completed forms will take place on or before February 19.

The caretaker committee fixed the publication of sub-committees for February 19 and screening of aspirants between February 20 and 22.

The Screening Appeal Committee will hear and resolve complaints on February 23 while the accreditation of statutory and elected delegates to the National Convention will take place between February 24 and 25. The Convention will hold on February 26.

The hearing of complaints arising from the Convention will be conducted on February 28.

Adamu, who said the Reconciliation Committee received 47 petitions from aggrieved members, pointed out that the complaints underscored the conflicts in the party.

He said: “Nobody will tell you that political conflicts that are based on ego in some cases, sometimes perception, none of us have control over that. Nobody has.

“So, we cannot stop them from bringing their petitions but the first we get, we will do what we can to recommend to the party.”

To Adamu, the resolution of the conflicts will enhance stability and pave the way for a peaceful and conducive convention.

He said his committee requested more time “because there are still members who are still submitting reports to be treated and the door cannot suddenly be shut against them because they deserved to be heard”.

Adamu stressed: “As of today, we still have petitions coming in. People are still trooping in to come and see us. And we cannot in all fairness stop them. But as long as we are there when we get the final report, the first thing about Reconciliation is a work in progress.”

Receiving the report on behalf of Buni, former Senate President Ken Nnamani said the reports were timely as the party was preparing for its convention.

He said: “As you are all aware, this committee is very important to our collective zeal of recovering, repositioning and rejuvenating our party for us to have a strong, stable and united APC.”

Buni said the Caretaker Committee would carefully study the report and implement the same to improve the unity and strength of the party.

To foster peace in APC, Buni said the party should attach importance to unity

“As you are aware, the party conducted a successful membership registration and revalidation exercise and now proudly has over 40 million members, making APC Africa’s largest political party and Nigeria’s leading party.

“With this numerical strength, APC remains the party that can confidently win elections with a landslide victory in all the national elections.”

Buni added: “However, despite all the achievements recorded by the party under my stewardship, and the high profile defections into the party, it is very pertinent for the party to promote the philosophy of unity of purpose, to pursue national interests against personal interests and a functional system of internal democracy to have a united, stable and prosperous political party.

“Let me once again solicit for your collective support to the caretaker committee for the party to organise a very successful National Convention that will be a stepping stone to the party’s success in the 2023 general election.”