Obasanjo still angry over failed 3rd term bid – Atiku
By Omeiza Ajayi
ABUJA — Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress and former Vice President of Nigeria, has responded to recent comments from former President Olusegun Obasanjo by asserting that the remarks stem from residual bitterness regarding Obasanjo’s failed third-term agenda.
In a statement released by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Abubakar expressed disappointment after watching Obasanjo’s recent interview. He described the interview as an effort by Obasanjo to distort historical facts due to personal resentment.
Abubakar reflected on his longstanding relationship with Obasanjo, recalling his support during the former president’s imprisonment. He stated that he worked with fellow patriots to secure Obasanjo’s release and provided assistance to him and his family during that difficult period. Abubakar emphasized he helped Obasanjo regain stability after his release from prison.
“History records that while Chief Obasanjo was in prison, I stood firmly by him. I supported his family, worked tirelessly with other patriots for his release and never wavered in my belief that he deserved his freedom,” Abubakar said.
Obasanjo has previously stated that his greatest regret was selecting Abubakar as his vice president. In his response, Abubakar underscored his opposition to Obasanjo’s third-term agenda, asserting his commitment to upholding the Constitution. “I am proud that I stood against the third-term agenda,” he said.
Abubakar characterized his fight against the third-term initiative as a defense of Nigeria’s democratic principles, emphasizing that history has judged this conflict in favor of the Constitution. He noted that recent comments from World Trade Organization Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala highlighted the effectiveness of the economic management team he led, questioning the relevance of Obasanjo’s critique in this context.
“Whether or not the timing is merely coincidental is for Nigerians to judge,” Abubakar stated. “While distinguished Nigerians who served at the highest levels continue to acknowledge my contributions, Chief Obasanjo appears determined to diminish them.”
On the subject of past support for Obasanjo, Abubakar expressed no regrets, viewing acts of kindness as moral obligations rather than transactions. “Do I regret helping Chief Obasanjo? Absolutely not. Acts of kindness are matters of conscience, not commercial transactions,” he said.
Abubakar criticized the former president for revisiting old grievances while Nigeria faces pressing issues such as economic hardship, unemployment, and insecurity. He asserted that the focus of the upcoming 2027 election should be on addressing these challenges rather than reopening historical disputes.
He acknowledged that his previous restraint regarding Obasanjo was out of respect for the office he once held, but cautioned that such restraint has limits. “There comes a point when silence in the face of repeated distortions of history ceases to be a virtue,” he remarked.
Abubakar concluded by affirming that while Obasanjo is entitled to his opinions and grievances, he is not entitled to his own facts. “History is stubborn. It cannot be rewritten by bitterness, nor erased by repeated falsehoods. In the end, history will render its verdict—and so will the Nigerian people,” he stated.
