Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has responded to former President Olusegun Obasanjo after Obasanjo described choosing him as his running mate in the 1999 presidential election as the biggest mistake of his presidency.
According to a report by Punch on Saturday, August 1, 2026, in a statement released on Saturday, Atiku said he stood by Obasanjo during his time in prison and continued to support him after he regained his freedom. According to Atiku, Obasanjo had very little when he was released, so he welcomed him, provided clothing, ensured he was well cared for, and helped him get back on his feet.
Atiku also said he worked hard to build political alliances and made major personal and political sacrifices that contributed to Obasanjo’s emergence as Nigeria’s president in 1999.
The former vice president defended his decision to oppose the controversial third-term agenda during the Obasanjo administration, saying he has no regrets because he chose to protect Nigeria’s Constitution and democracy instead of supporting an unconstitutional extension of power.
He maintained that stopping the third-term plan helped preserve Nigeria’s democratic system and said history had already judged that decision positively.
Atiku added that he does not regret helping Obasanjo despite the breakdown of their relationship. However, he argued that history should not be rewritten to ignore the support he gave the former president.
He also expressed concern that, instead of focusing on Nigeria’s economic challenges, insecurity, and unemployment, old political disagreements were being brought back into public debate.
In his words, “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…See_More
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