Political Earthquake: Obasanjo Calls Atiku 'Biggest Mistake' As Feud Rages On!

The long-standing political hostilities between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar have reignited in the run-up to the 2027 general election, despite past reconciliations. Their initial fallout occurred during their second term in office between 2003 and 2007, a period marked by court battles and Obasanjo's subsequent criticisms in his memoir. However, the duo had seemingly mended fences, with Atiku even dining at Obasanjo’s hilltop mansion in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.

The latest escalation began with Obasanjo's accusations against Atiku. He alleged that Atiku had bribed the late Speaker Ghali Na Abba to impeach him. Furthermore, Obasanjo blamed the South-West governors who lost their re-election bids in 2003 on their alliance with Atiku. Atiku, a prominent candidate for the upcoming presidential election, swiftly retaliated, suggesting that Obasanjo's apparent support for Peter Obi, Presidential Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), was a strategic maneuver to subtly favor his kinsman, President Bola Tinubu, as both are from the South-West.

The feud intensified on a Friday when Obasanjo, during a fireside chat with Charles Oputa (popularly known as Charly Boy) at the unveiling of Charly Boy’s Foundation and memoir, declared that picking Atiku as his running mate in the 1999 presidential election was the "greatest mistake" of his time in office. Responding to a question about his biggest mistake as president, Obasanjo stated, "If I had known him as I came to know him later, I would not have picked him." He expressed gratitude that Atiku's "actions and reactions did not overwhelm me or divert my own focus from Nigeria," adding that there was "no bitterness," and Atiku "did things he believed he should do and God did things he needed to do which enabled me to achieve what I was able to achieve." Obasanjo also took the opportunity to reflect on the Nigerian Civil War, rejecting claims that it amounted to genocide and emphasizing that the military campaign was aimed at preserving the nation's unity. He cited deliberate steps to minimize civilian casualties during operations, such as the recapture of Owerri, stating he did not drop a single bomb inside the city to avoid destroying it and killing innocent civilians, instead dropping bombs short of and beyond Owerri as a warning.

Atiku Abubakar promptly responded to Obasanjo’s controversial remark, dismissing it in a statement issued on Saturday, August 1, by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, as "another failed attempt to rewrite history." Atiku asserted that Obasanjo's bitterness stems from his unwavering opposition to the former president's third-term agenda. He declared his pride in standing against the unconstitutional third-term bid, stating, "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 added that he considers Obasanjo's "resentment as a badge of honour" if it originates from his refusal to support an unconstitutional tenure extension, emphasizing that "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." He also recounted his steadfast support for Obasanjo during his imprisonment, aiding his family, working for his release, and helping to rebuild his political career, expressing no regrets despite their fractured relationship.

Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, offered his perspective on the enduring rivalry, remarking that the Obasanjo-Atiku feud, which he humorously noted began when "Gen Zs were in nursery and primary school," is likely to persist "until one of them is gone, and the other will pay a glowing tribute." Sani characterized the exchange as Atiku throwing a "devastating bomb" and subsequently receiving Obasanjo’s "hypersonic missiles" for two decades, underscoring the deep-seated and prolonged nature of their political disagreements.