Jennifer Douglas Abubakar, the third wife of Atiku Abubakar, former vice-president, has finally reacted to controversies trailing her efforts to divorce the politician.
Rumours had earlier swirled that Jennifer asked Atiku for divorce over his decision to take a new wife.
But in a statement to The Trent, an online platform, Jennifer dismissed the claim and described it as “a campaign of calumny to total discredit and put me in bad light.”
The lawyer said she had asked Atiku for a divorce on June 26, 2021, “in light of the breakdown of our marriage”
Jennifer disclosed that contrary to rumours, the union hit the rocks after a disagreement ensued over her continued stay in the United Kingdom with their children.
The entrepreneur said she was already aware that Atiku had a new wife even though he did not inform her.
“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,” she said.
“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. And, in line with Northern culture, the new wife takes up the baton so I can also focus on giving the kids more care.
“Despite not informing us 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 have 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 put to bed.
“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.”
Jennifer also dismissed claims she attempted to take over properties belonging to the former presidential candidate in Nigeria and Dubai.
She said after her request for divorce, the politician asked her to return the house and other properties he earlier gifted her.
The lawyer also said she decided to give her own account of the issue to address the various speculations trailing her efforts to get a divorce.
She claimed that she had been receiving death threats and intimidation from Atiku’s security operatives since she started seeking a divorce.
“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,” she added.
“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.” The Cable)
