Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has disclosed that he saved the life of former President Olusegun Obasanjo while Obasanjo was in prison by leaking information about a planned injection that could have killed him.
Atiku's Revelation About the Prison Injection Plot
Speaking with newsmen in an interview, Atiku, who served as Vice President under Obasanjo from 1999 to 2007, claimed that he learned of a plan to administer a lethal injection to Obasanjo during his imprisonment. Atiku said he then warned Obasanjo not to allow the injection.
According to Atiku, a similar method was used against the late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua. He stated: “I saved Obasanjo’s life in prison by leaking information about an impending injection that could have killed him. They did the same to Yar’Adua, and when I learnt they planned to do it to him, I warned him not to allow the injection.”
Context of the Third-Term Controversy
Atiku linked his past actions to the current political rift between him and Obasanjo. He expressed frustration that Obasanjo now seeks to turn public opinion against him. Atiku added: “Today, he wants the world to hate me because I opposed his third-term ambition.”
The disclosure comes amid ongoing political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections. Atiku's account highlights the deep-seated tensions between the former president and his ex-deputy, rooted in Obasanjo's failed attempt to amend the constitution to allow a third term in office, which Atiku publicly opposed.
Impact on Political Discourse
The ADC candidate's statement has reignited debate about the treatment of political prisoners in Nigeria's past. Atiku's version of events, if accurate, underscores the dangers faced by high-profile detainees during the military era and early democratic transitions. The former vice president's claims have not been independently verified, and Obasanjo's camp has not yet issued a response to the allegation.
