The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has claimed that he saved former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s life while the former leader was in prison.
Atiku made the claim during an interview with journalists, where he alleged that he leaked information about an alleged plan to administer an injection that could have killed Obasanjo.
According to the former Vice President, a similar plan had previously been carried out against the late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, who died in detention in December 1997.
He said he became aware of the alleged plan involving Obasanjo and warned the former military ruler not to accept the injection.
“I saved Obasanjo’s life in prison by leaking information about an impending injection that could have killed him,” Atiku said.
“They did the same to Yar’Adua, and when I learnt they planned to do it to him, I warned him not to allow the injection.”
He further alleged that his relationship with Obasanjo deteriorated because of his opposition to the former president’s attempt to secure a third term in office.
“Today, he wants the world to hate me because I opposed his third-term ambition,” he added.
Obasanjo and Atiku later became political allies following Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999, with Obasanjo serving as president and Atiku as vice president between 1999 and 2007.
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Their administration governed Nigeria for two terms, although their relationship became strained towards the end of their tenure.
His latest comments come amid renewed political activity ahead of the 2027 presidential election, in which he is expected to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other political contenders.
The former Vice President has remained a prominent figure in Nigerian opposition politics, having contested the presidency several times.
His latest account of his relationship with Obasanjo adds to the long-running political history between the two former leaders, particularly their disagreements over Obasanjo’s controversial third-term bid.
He has previously maintained that his opposition to the proposal contributed to the collapse of the plan, which ultimately failed to secure the constitutional amendments required to extend Obasanjo’s tenure beyond 2007.
