Atiku changes tune, says he spoke with late Sakaba’s sister, not widow
Atiku Abubakar has retracted his earlier claim that he spoke with late Lt. Col Ibrahim Sakaba’s widow over the phone on Sunday.
Sakaba’s wife, Seun, debunked the presidential candidate’s claim. She received no such call, she said.
Atiku has, since the time, been receiving knocks for “lying” to deceive the public.
Almost 24 hours after the claim, Atiku has now said it was indeed the slain soldier’s sister he spoke with.
“Following the death of Lt. Col Ibrahim Sakaba during the Boko Haram insurgents’ attack on 157 Taskforce Battalion in Metele, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar’s staff has made efforts to get the contact of his widow to enable the former Vice President express his condolences over the loss of the fallen hero,” a statement on his behalf Monday afternoon, read.
“Over the weekend, Atiku Abubakar was availed with phone numbers of Mrs. Sakaba and Maryam, younger sister of the late soldier, in the alternative.
“On Sunday, the former Vice President tried albeit unsuccessfully to contact Mrs. Sakaba but was able to eventually speak with Maryam, younger sister of the gallant soldier during which he expressed his deepest condolences to the family.”
The PDP candidate’s communication team said the real identity of who he spoke with was “erroneously communicated”.
“The error is regretted,” the statement said.
