In a statement issued on Saturday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said Obasanjo's latest comments were another attempt to rewrite the history of their political relationship and the eight-year administration they jointly led.
The 2027 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) said he watched Obasanjo's remarks "with profound sadness, not anger," arguing that they reflected a man whose personal grievances had overshadowed historical facts. He maintained that the source of Obasanjo's longstanding hostility was well known: Atiku's decision to oppose the constitutional amendment that would have allowed Obasanjo to stay in office beyond two terms.
A Badge of Honour
"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," Atiku said.
He added: "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."
According to Atiku, the third-term fight was not a personal battle between him and Obasanjo but a struggle to preserve constitutional democracy for future generations. "The Nigerian people won that battle. Democracy won that battle. History has already delivered its verdict," he remarked.
Economic Contributions Defended
Atiku also rejected attempts to downplay his role in the economic policies of the Obasanjo administration. He highlighted comments by Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), who, according to the statement, had praised the economic management team he led as vice president. Atiku noted that Okonjo-Iweala's remarks came less than 24 hours before Obasanjo's latest criticism.
"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 said Obasanjo was free to disregard his contribution, but the historical record would ultimately speak for itself. "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."
Atiku: I Clothed Obasanjo
Atiku recalled his relationship with Obasanjo before he became president. Obasanjo was imprisoned in 1995 by the military government of General Sani Abacha after being convicted of involvement in an alleged coup plot. He was released in June 1998 after Abacha's death and the transition to civilian rule.
"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," Atiku said.
He further claimed that after Obasanjo's release, he provided personal and political assistance. "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. Beyond that, I mobilised political structures, built alliances and made enormous personal and political sacrifices that culminated in his emergence as president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria."
Atiku said he did not regret helping Obasanjo and did not expect repayment. "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 accused Obasanjo of failing to acknowledge that role. "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."
Obasanjo Should Focus on Nigeria's Problems
Atiku criticised Obasanjo for revisiting old political disputes at a time when Nigerians are grappling with serious economic and security challenges. He cited economic hardship, unemployment, insecurity and widespread despair as issues that should command the attention 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 said he had deliberately refrained from responding to Obasanjo's previous criticisms out of respect for the office of president and their once-shared relationship. But he warned that his restraint should not be mistaken for 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 added: "Chief Obasanjo is entitled to his opinions. He is entitled to his personal grievances. What he is not entitled to are his own facts."
The Third-Term Controversy and Its Aftermath
Obasanjo and Atiku were elected president and vice president on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 1999 and re-elected in 2003. Their relationship deteriorated during the second term, particularly over the attempt to amend the Constitution to allow Obasanjo to seek a third term. Atiku opposed the move, leading to a political split.
The former vice president later left the PDP for the Action Congress and contested the 2007 presidential election against the PDP's candidate, Umaru Yar'Adua. The dispute also triggered a constitutional battle after Obasanjo declared Atiku's office vacant following his defection. The Supreme Court ultimately ruled that the president lacked the constitutional authority to remove an elected vice president.
Obasanjo has repeatedly criticised Atiku since then, while Atiku has consistently defended his actions and his record in office.
