Atiku Abubakar Hits Back at Obasanjo, Cites 'Nigeria and Democracy Over Personal Loyalty'

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has sharply retorted to former President Olusegun Obasanjo's recent remarks, accusing him of allowing personal resentment to cloud historical accuracy. Obasanjo had described selecting Atiku as his running mate in 1999 as the "biggest mistake" of his political career.

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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, who is the presidential candidate for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2027 election, stated that his opposition to Obasanjo's controversial third-term agenda was rooted in his commitment to Nigeria's constitution and democratic principles. He expressed pride in standing against the attempt to subvert democracy for personal ambition, asserting that no individual is above the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku conveyed "profound sadness, not anger," regarding Obasanjo's comments. He suggested that the former president's bitterness stems from his refusal to support the unconstitutional third-term bid, which Atiku considers a "badge of honour." He emphasized that his decision was not a personal battle but a struggle to preserve constitutional democracy for future generations, a battle he believes Nigeria and democracy ultimately won.

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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.

Furthermore, Atiku pushed back against any attempts to diminish his contributions to the economic policies of the Obasanjo administration. He referenced comments attributed to World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who reportedly praised the economic management team he led as vice president. Atiku positioned his actions as upholding constitutional integrity over personal loyalty, asserting that history has already judged the events favorably.

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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.