Atiku Responds to Obasanjo, Says He Chose Nigeria Over Personal Loyalty

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo of letting personal feelings twist the history of their eight years in power. He said he does not regret opposing Obasanjo's move for a third term.

Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 election, said his choice to fight the controversial third-term agenda was due to his commitment to Nigeria's Constitution and democracy.

He made this known after Obasanjo claimed that choosing Atiku as his running mate in the 1999 election was his biggest political mistake.

In a statement on Saturday from his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said Obasanjo's latest remarks are another attempt to change the narrative of their political history and administration.

Atiku said he viewed Obasanjo's comments "with profound sadness, not anger." He believes they show a man whose personal issues have clouded historical facts.

He pointed out that Obasanjo's long-standing dislike for him is well known. He reminded everyone that he opposed the move to change the Constitution to keep Obasanjo in power beyond the two-term limit.

"I am proud that I stood against the third-term agenda. I am proud that I stood by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I have no apology whatsoever for frustrating every attempt to subvert our democracy for personal ambition," he stated.

Atiku said if Obasanjo's anger is because he refused to support the third-term plan, then he sees that as a badge of honor.

"If Chief Obasanjo's bitterness stems from my refusal to support an unconstitutional third term, then I wear that resentment as a badge of honour. No individual, regardless of his status or accomplishments, is bigger than the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Constitution is supreme, and I chose Nigeria over personal loyalty," he said.

He added that the fight against the third-term agenda was not just about him and Obasanjo but about preserving democracy for future generations.

"The Nigerian people won that battle. Democracy won that battle. History has already delivered its verdict," he said.

Atiku noted it is ironic that the same person whose ambition he opposed is now criticizing those who resisted the plan.

He also pushed back against any attempt to downplay his role in the economic policies during the Obasanjo administration. He highlighted comments from Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), who praised the economic management team he led as vice president.

Atiku pointed out that her comments came just a day before Obasanjo's latest remarks. "Whether or not the timing is merely coincidental is for Nigerians to judge. What is beyond dispute, however, is that while distinguished Nigerians who served at the highest levels continue to acknowledge my contributions to one of Nigeria’s most successful periods of economic management, Chief Obasanjo appears determined to diminish them," he said.

He argued that Obasanjo is free to ignore his contributions, but the truth will eventually come out. "Chief Obasanjo may choose not to appreciate my role in building one of Nigeria's most prosperous economic eras, but history has been far kinder. The record speaks for itself, and so do the testimonies of those who worked closely with that administration," he added.

Atiku recalled how he supported Obasanjo during his imprisonment and helped him politically. Obasanjo was jailed by the military government of the late General Sani Abacha in 1995 over a supposed coup plot. He got out in June 1998 after Abacha's death.

Atiku said he stood by Obasanjo while he was in prison, supported his family, and worked with others for his release.

"History records that while Chief Obasanjo was in prison, I stood firmly by him. I supported his family, worked tirelessly with other patriots for his release and never wavered in my belief that he deserved his freedom," he stated.

He added that after Obasanjo was released, he gave him personal and political help. "When he eventually regained his freedom, he had little to his name. I received him, clothed him, ensured he was properly cared for and extended every support necessary to help him regain his footing," he said.

Atiku claimed he mobilized political support and made significant sacrifices that led to Obasanjo becoming president.

"Do I regret helping Chief Obasanjo? Absolutely not. When God gives you the opportunity to lift another human being, you do so without expecting repayment. Acts of kindness are matters of conscience, not commercial transactions," he said.

He did accuse Obasanjo of not recognizing his role in his political journey. "If the true history of Chief Obasanjo's political journey is ever written, free from selective recollection and personal bitterness, Atiku Abubakar will feature prominently as one of those whom God used to change the course of his life and political career," he said.

Atiku criticized Obasanjo for bringing up old political fights when Nigerians are facing serious economic and security issues. He mentioned economic hardship, unemployment, insecurity, and widespread despair as problems that should be the focus of political leaders ahead of the 2027 election.

"The 2027 election should be about rebuilding Nigeria, restoring security, reviving the economy and giving hope to the next generation, not reopening old political wounds," he said.

Atiku shared that he had held back from responding to Obasanjo's earlier criticisms due to his respect for the presidency and their past relationship. But he warned that his silence should not be seen as weakness.

"That restraint should never be mistaken for weakness or docility. There comes a point when silence in the face of repeated distortions of history ceases to be a virtue. While I have no desire to engage in a public quarrel with a man I once stood beside in his most difficult moments, neither will I permit falsehoods, half-truths and calculated attempts to rewrite history to go unanswered," he said.

Atiku stated that Obasanjo can have his opinions but should not present disputed claims as facts. "Chief Obasanjo is entitled to his opinions. He is entitled to his personal grievances. What he is not entitled to are his own facts," he said.

Obasanjo and Atiku were elected president and vice president in 1999 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and were re-elected in 2003. Their relationship soured during their second term, especially over the controversy of the third-term agenda. Atiku opposed this move, leading to a breakdown in their political relationship.

Atiku later left the PDP for the Action Congress and ran for president in 2007 against the PDP's candidate, Umaru Yar'Adua. This disagreement also led to a court battle after Obasanjo declared Atiku's office vacant due to his defection. The Supreme Court ruled that the president did not have the power to remove an elected vice president from office.

Since their time in power, Obasanjo has often criticized Atiku, while Atiku has defended his role in the administration and his opposition to Obasanjo's third-term bid.