Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has described his decision to select Atiku Abubakar as his running mate for the 1999 presidential election as the single biggest misstep of his political journey. He made the admission on Friday in Lagos during a fireside chat with veteran entertainer Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, at the unveiling of the Charly Boy Foundation and the launch of Oputa's memoir, 999: A Memoir in Tribute to Late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa.
A Regret Revealed at a Lagos Gathering
While reflecting on the key decisions of his time in office, the former president was asked directly about choosing a deputy in 1999. In response, he said he would not have made the same choice if he had then possessed the knowledge he later gained about Atiku.
“The man I picked as my running mate, my number two. If I had known him as I came to know him later, I would not have picked him,” Obasanjo said. When Charly Boy pressed to confirm whether he meant Atiku, Obasanjo replied: “My vice president. I don’t know what name you want to give him, but my vice president, I mean that.”
He added that his experience working alongside Atiku during their time in office shaped the way he later evaluated his former deputy. “Of course, what I know about him later… I would not have picked him. Thank God that God did not allow his actions and reactions to overwhelm me, divert my focus from Nigeria or harm Nigeria,” he said.
No Bitterness, He Insists
Despite the sharp words, Obasanjo maintained that he holds no personal animosity toward Atiku. “There’s no bitterness because he did what he believed he should do, and God did what God had to do, which enabled me to achieve what I was able to achieve,” he explained.
The public admission comes as both men see renewed political activity around the 2027 presidential election. Atiku, who recently became the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has accused Obasanjo of secretly backing a preferred candidate for the upcoming race.
How the Relationship Broke Down
Messrs Obasanjo and Atiku initially worked closely during the first term of the administration. Atiku played influential roles in economic policy and chaired key government institutions, including the National Economic Council and the National Council on Privatisation. The relationship, however, became strained as political differences intensified.
One of the major flashpoints was the controversy over an alleged attempt by Obasanjo to amend the Constitution to seek a third term in office. Atiku opposed the move, and the fallout between the two men became public and bitter.
The split deepened ahead of the 2007 general election when Atiku left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the defunct Action Congress (AC) and emerged as its presidential candidate. Obasanjo then declared the vice president’s office vacant, but the Supreme Court ruled that the president lacked the constitutional power to remove an elected vice president. That decision allowed Atiku to remain in office until the administration ended in 2007.
Rivalry That Spans Decades
After leaving office, the political rivalry continued, with both men exchanging accusations over their conduct while in government. Obasanjo has also previously voiced strong opposition to Atiku’s presidential ambitions. In a 2018 interview with PREMIUM TIMES, the former president said he could not support Atiku, arguing that he had come to know his former deputy in a different light. “If I support Atiku for anything, God will not forgive me if I do not know, yes. But once I know, Atiku can never enjoy my support,” Obasanjo was quoted as saying.
In recent weeks, Atiku’s camp responded to older allegations resurfacing. Obasanjo revived a claim that Atiku gave the late Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Na’Abba, ₦5 million to initiate impeachment proceedings against him while he was president. Atiku rejected the allegation and described its resurgence as an attempt to damage his political standing.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former vice president challenged Obasanjo to openly name the candidate he supports instead of allegedly trying to shape the election by attacking political opponents. Atiku argued that Obasanjo should let Nigerians judge candidates on their merits, particularly because Na’Abba, a central figure in the old allegation, is dead.
What Comes Next in 2027?
Atiku did not expressly name President Bola Tinubu in his remarks, but he referred to Obasanjo as allegedly supporting his “kinsman”—a phrase widely interpreted in Nigerian political circles as a reference to Tinubu. The exchange highlights the continuing friction between two of the country’s most prominent political figures, even as the next presidential election draws nearer.
Obasanjo, a retired general and former head of state, won the PDP ticket for the 1999 election and chose Atiku as his running mate. At the time, Atiku had won the governorship election in his native Adamawa State but had not yet been sworn into that office.
