Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed regret over his decision to choose Atiku Abubakar as his vice-president during his eight-year administration.
Obasanjo made the remark on Friday during a fireside chat with activist Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, in Lagos, where the latter unveiled his foundation and memoir, 999: A Memoir in Tribute to Late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa.
Obasanjo and Atiku served together as president and vice-president between 1999 and 2007, but their relationship became strained during Obasanjo’s second term in office.
Reflecting on his experience, Obasanjo said he would not have selected Atiku as his running mate if he had known what he later came to know about him.
“The man I picked as my running mate, my number two, if I had known as I came to know him later, I would not have picked him,” he said.
“I mean my vice-president. What I know about him later makes me… thank God because God did not allow his actions and reactions to overwhelm me or to divert my focus from Nigeria or to harm Nigeria.”
Despite the bitter relationship that developed between them, the former president said he had no resentment towards Atiku over their past disagreements.
“And then, there is no bitterness because he did things that he believed he should do and God did things He had to do, which made me achieve what I was able to achieve,” he said.
Since leaving office, Obasanjo and Atiku have repeatedly exchanged accusations over corruption, abuse of office and political betrayal.
In his 2014 memoir, My Watch, Obasanjo accused Atiku of corruption and disloyalty, alleging that his former vice-president placed personal ambition above the national interest.
Atiku, however, rejected the allegations, accusing Obasanjo of attempting to rewrite history and present himself as the victim of political persecution during the final years of their administration.
The long-running dispute between the two former leaders resurfaced recently after Obasanjo alleged that Atiku gave the late former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba, N5 million to initiate impeachment proceedings against him during his first term.
Obasanjo made the allegation while responding to comments by former Ogun State Governor, Olusegun Osoba, concerning the political developments that preceded the 2003 general election.
Atiku subsequently accused Obasanjo of fabricating allegations against him in an attempt to advance the political interests of his kinsman ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
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