Femi Otedola, billionaire businessman, has disclosed that ex-Military Head of State, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, IBB, encouraged former President Goodluck Jonathan to take charge during the absence of his predecessor, late Musa Yar’Adua.

Otedola disclosed that IBB had advised Jonathan to sit on Yar’Adua’s vacant seat during a Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting.

The business mogul disclosed that Babangida had asked him to deliver the message to Jonathan.

He spoke over the weekend while felicitating with IBB on his 80th birthday.

Reading from his forthcoming book on business lessons to be released in November 2021, Otedola said: “Met Babangida at his Hilltop residence, we spoke on a wide range of issues, but I told him I needed to discuss an urgent and vital issue. I told him that the state of the nation had been agitating my mind.

“Femi, advise your friend that when he gets to the Council Chambers next week for the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, he should go and sit on Yar’Adua’s chair.

“I found that fascinating and assured him I would pass the message across. I did not waste time in delivering Babangida’s message to him.

“A week later, February 9, the National Assembly adopted the famous ‘Doctrine of Necessity’ to make Dr Jonathan the Acting President pending the return of Yar’Adua from his medical leave.

“The following day was the FEC meeting. As Dr Jonathan entered the Council Chamber, he made to sit on the chair of the Vice President—his usual seat.

“As the protocol officer pulled out the VP’s chair, Dr Jonathan marched towards the seat reserved for the President. And he sat on it! That was the moment Dr Goodluck Jonathan took control of power. By that act, he sent a strong signal to all Nigerians that he was now in charge. The same day, Jonathan even reshuffled the cabinet.”

In 2009, Yar’Adua had failed to hand over power to his then Vice, Jonathan when he travelled abroad for medical treatment.

Yar’Adua’s absence created a constitutional crisis and vacuum which led to Jonathan being asked to take charge.

However, the former president had died on May 5, 2010, after a protracted sickness.

Following his death, Jonathan was sworn-in.

He, later, went ahead to contest the 2011 presidential election and won, but lost his reelection bid in 2015 to President Muhammadu Buhari.