Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of covertly supporting a relative for the 2027 presidential election, while challenging the elder statesman to openly declare his preferred candidate. Atiku, who served under Obasanjo from 1999 to 2007 and is now the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), responded to recent claims by Obasanjo that Atiku provided ₦5 million to the late House of Representatives Speaker Ghali Na’Abba to initiate impeachment proceedings against Obasanjo in 2003.
Atiku Challenges Obasanjo to Publicly Declare Support
In a statement released Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described the revived allegations as a deliberate attempt to damage his political standing ahead of the 2027 general election. The statement read, “Coming at a time when the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general election is taking shape, the obvious objective is to besmirch my person and reputation and confer an undeserved political advantage on the former President’s kinsman.”
Atiku argued that if Obasanjo has chosen a preferred successor, he should state it clearly rather than relying on unverifiable claims, especially since the primary witness, Na’Abba, is deceased. “He should simply declare [his preferred candidate] and allow Nigerians to judge it on its merits, rather than attempting to influence public opinion through allegations that can no longer be tested,” the statement added. While Atiku did not explicitly name President Bola Tinubu, his reference to Obasanjo’s “kinsman” is widely interpreted as a dig at Tinubu, given their shared South-West origin.
History of Friction Between Obasanjo and Tinubu
The relationship between Obasanjo and Tinubu, once political allies in the early Fourth Republic, has deteriorated over decades due to disputes over governance and electoral politics. Their first major standoff occurred in 2003 when the Obasanjo administration withheld local government allocations from Lagos State after Tinubu created 37 Local Council Development Areas. Tensions escalated during Obasanjo’s reported efforts to secure a third presidential term in 2007, which Tinubu vehemently opposed. More recently, ahead of the 2023 election, Obasanjo endorsed Labour Party candidate Peter Obi, further deepening the rift between him and Tinubu. Since Tinubu took office, Obasanjo has been a vocal critic of the administration’s economic reforms, citing rising poverty and inflation.
Atiku Questions Timing of Bribery Allegations
Regarding the ₦5 million bribery claim, Atiku questioned why Obasanjo waited until after Na’Abba’s death to make the accusation. “If this allegation were true, why did he never make it while Mr Na’Abba was alive? Why wait until the only man who could confirm or refute the claim has departed this world?” Atiku asked. “It is unfair to his memory and contrary to our cultural values to conscript the dead into contemporary political battles when they no longer have a voice.”
Na’Abba, who served as speaker from 1999 to 2003, led the House in several confrontations with Obasanjo’s executive, peaking in 2002 when the legislature moved to impeach the president. Although the Senate briefly supported the move, intervention from former heads of state, including Shehu Shagari and Yakubu Gowon, ultimately halted the process. Na’Abba died on 27 December 2023 and later expressed regret in a 2018 interview that the impeachment process was not seen to its conclusion.
Atiku has now challenged Obasanjo to produce evidence of his claims, asserting that as president at the time, Obasanjo held the state’s full investigative powers to address any criminal conduct if it actually occurred.
