The All Progressives Congress (APC) has backed former President Olusegun Obasanjo‘s criticism of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. The ruling party said Obasanjo’s remarks should serve as a warning to Nigerians ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
However, Atiku dismissed the criticism. He insisted that the former president’s comments would not affect his chances of winning the election. The exchange followed Obasanjo’s remarks on Friday, when he described choosing Atiku as his running mate in the 1999 presidential election as the biggest mistake of his presidency.
“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.”
The latest comments have further highlighted the long-running political disagreement between both leaders, whose relationship deteriorated during their second term in office.
APC cites Obasanjo’s experience
Reacting to the remarks, APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru said Obasanjo was in the best position to assess Atiku because they served together in government. He described Atiku as a serial defector. Basiru added that the former vice president’s political history reflected the concerns raised by Obasanjo.
“Obasanjo has said so many things about Atiku, and he is in a position to know who the former vice president is.”
Basiru said Nigerians should take the former president’s comments seriously. He argued that Obasanjo’s assessment came from personal knowledge rather than political considerations.
“Obasanjo’s comments are a warning to Nigerians. So, no serious Nigerian should take Atiku seriously or give him another leadership opportunity. Obasanjo has said Atiku was corrupt, disloyal and many things.”
The APC chieftain also pointed out that Obasanjo was not supporting the ruling party. According to him, that makes the former president’s remarks even more significant.
Atiku says remarks will not affect 2027 ambition
Atiku, however, maintained that Obasanjo’s comments would have no impact on his presidential ambition. Speaking through his media aide, Paul Ibe, the former vice president said Nigerians alone would decide the outcome of the 2027 election.
“How will it affect his chances? The election will be determined by Nigerians. In all these shenanigans, do you observe that Atiku has not, as a person, responded directly to Obasanjo? He will not.”
Ibe accused Obasanjo of trying to influence public opinion against Atiku. He also described the former president’s actions as vindictive politics.
“Obasanjo is trying to muddy the waters, and when he finishes all these vindictive politics, Nigerians are the ones who will make decisions about Atiku, not Obasanjo.”
He added that Obasanjo had only one vote. According to him, the former president’s remarks would not change Atiku’s electoral prospects.
Media aide urges Obasanjo to move on
Ibe said Obasanjo was free to support any candidate of his choice. However, he urged the former president to rise above personal disagreements. He argued that political differences should not result in repeated public attacks many years after both men left office.
“A man worked with you and did a fantastic job. You might have disagreed in principle. But that is not a reason for you, 20 years later, to continue talking about this man every day.”
He also questioned when Obasanjo concluded that Atiku was unfit for office. According to Ibe, the fallout appeared to have followed Atiku’s opposition to the controversial third-term agenda. He further claimed that many Nigerians had already made up their minds about the next presidential election.
Atiku defends opposition to third-term agenda
In an earlier statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku accused Obasanjo of allowing personal resentment to cloud history. He maintained that opposing the failed third-term agenda remained one of the proudest decisions of his political career.
“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. 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.”
The ADC presidential candidate argued that the third-term controversy represented a defining moment in Nigeria’s democratic journey rather than a personal dispute between himself and Obasanjo. He also observed that the latest criticism came shortly after World Trade Organisation Director-General, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, publicly commended the economic management team he led during the Obasanjo administration.
According to Atiku, many distinguished Nigerians continue to acknowledge his contributions to economic reforms. He, however, claimed that Obasanjo appeared determined to downplay those achievements.
Read also: Atiku replies Obasanjo, says he has no regrets over stopping third-term agenda
