Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has responded to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s claim that selecting him as vice president remains his greatest political regret, saying he stood by the former leader during one of the most difficult periods of his life.
In a statement issued on Saturday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said he was saddened—not angered—by Obasanjo’s remarks, insisting that history would fairly judge the relationship between them.
According to Atiku, he supported Obasanjo’s family while the former president was imprisoned and worked alongside other patriots to secure his release.
“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,” Atiku said.
The statement followed comments made by Obasanjo on Friday during the unveiling of activist Charly Boy’s foundation and memoir in Lagos, where the former president described his decision to pick Atiku as his running mate in the 1999 presidential election as his greatest political regret.
Obasanjo said that based on what he later came to know about Atiku, he would never have chosen him as vice president. He, however, expressed gratitude that Atiku’s actions did not harm Nigeria or derail his administration, adding that despite their political differences, he harboured no personal bitterness toward his former deputy.
The relationship between the two leaders deteriorated during Obasanjo’s second term in office, leading to years of public exchanges and allegations bordering on corruption, abuse of office, and political betrayal.
Reacting to the latest comments, Atiku linked Obasanjo’s criticism to his refusal to support the controversial third-term agenda, maintaining that he remained proud of his role in defending Nigeria’s Constitution and democracy.
“If Chief Obasanjo’s resentment stems from my refusal to support the third-term agenda, then I wear that as a badge of honour. No individual is greater than the Constitution,” he said.
Atiku argued that resisting the third-term bid was a collective effort by patriotic Nigerians to protect democratic governance, adding that history had vindicated those who opposed the proposal.
He also referenced recent remarks attributed to Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who reportedly described the economic management team he led during the Obasanjo administration as one of Nigeria’s best.
While stressing that he had no regrets about supporting Obasanjo after his release from prison, Atiku cautioned against attempts to rewrite history. He expressed disappointment that old political disagreements were being revisited at a time when Nigeria is grappling with economic hardship, unemployment, and insecurity.
He concluded by saying that although he had exercised restraint over the years out of respect for Obasanjo’s former office, “history cannot be rewritten by bitterness or repeated falsehoods,” adding that the Nigerian people and history would ultimately deliver the final verdict.
