Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has described his decision to select Atiku Abubakar as his running mate in the 1999 presidential election as the biggest mistake of his political journey.
Obasanjo made the disclosure on Friday in Lagos during a fireside conversation with entertainer and activist Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, at the unveiling of the Charly Boy Foundation and the launch of his memoir, 999: A Memoir in Tribute to Late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa.
The former president and Atiku contested the 1999 election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), winning the poll and serving together as president and vice president between 1999 and 2007.
Reflecting on his administration and decisions in office, Obasanjo said hindsight had changed his view of the choice he made nearly three decades ago.
“I would say the greatest mistake I made was picking Atiku Abubakar as my vice president in 1999,” he said.
Despite the political differences that later emerged between both men, Obasanjo said he held no resentment over the experience, adding that the challenges did not prevent him from achieving his goals as president.
“There is no bitterness in me over what happened. Despite everything, I was able to achieve what I set out to achieve while in power,” he stated.
The former president also spoke on the recurring controversy surrounding his ethnic background, reaffirming that his roots were firmly tied to Abeokuta, Ogun State.
“I still know our family house there,” Obasanjo said.
The event attracted several notable personalities, including former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; former Anambra State Governor and presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi; Chairman of Zinox Group, Leo Stan Ekeh; book reviewer Dr Austin Tam-George; and veteran broadcaster Bisi Olatilo.
At the gathering, Ekeh announced a donation of N20 million each on behalf of Obasanjo and Anyaoku to support the activities of the newly established Charly Boy Foundation.
