Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly responded to former President Olusegun Obasanjo after the elder statesman described choosing him as running mate in the 1999 presidential election as the “greatest mistake” of his political career. The exchange has reignited one of Nigeria’s most enduring political rivalries ahead of the 2027 general elections, Peak Newspaper reports.
Obasanjo made the remark during a public conversation in Lagos, where he reflected on his years in office and expressed regret over selecting Atiku as his deputy. While maintaining that he harboured no personal bitterness, the former president said hindsight had convinced him that the decision was a major political miscalculation.
In a swift reaction, Atiku dismissed the criticism and argued that his opposition to the controversial third-term agenda during the Obasanjo administration was a principled stand in defence of Nigeria’s democracy. He insisted that he chose constitutional order and national interest over personal loyalty, stressing that no individual is greater than the country. The former vice president also revisited their shared political history, claiming he supported Obasanjo during difficult periods, including after his release from imprisonment.
According to Atiku, he contributed politically and personally to the coalition-building efforts that eventually paved the way for Obasanjo’s emergence as president in 1999. Defending his legacy in government, Atiku maintained that he played a significant role in the economic reforms implemented during the administration. He pointed to positive assessments of the economic team that served between 1999 and 2007 as evidence that the government achieved notable progress during its tenure.
