Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has strongly responded to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, accusing him of attempting to distort history over their political relationship.
Reacting to Obasanjo’s recent remarks, Atiku said he was disappointed rather than angry, insisting that his decision to oppose the controversial third-term agenda remains one of the defining moments of his political career.
“I am proud that I stood against the third-term agenda. I stood by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Atiku declared.
According to him, refusing to support any move that threatened Nigeria’s democracy was a duty he would never apologise for.
“If Chief Obasanjo’s bitterness stems from my refusal to support an unconstitutional third term, then I wear that resentment as a badge of honour, ” he said.
Atiku argued that the battle against the third-term agenda was bigger than personalities, saying Nigerians ultimately emerged victorious because democracy was preserved.
He also referenced recent commendation from WTO Director-General, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who reportedly described the economic management team he led as one of Nigeria’s finest, saying such recognition speaks louder than attempts to diminish his contributions.
The former vice president further recalled the role he played during one of Obasanjo’s most difficult periods, claiming he stood by the former president while he was in prison and continued supporting him after his release.
“When he eventually regained his freedom, he had little to his name. I received him, clothed him, ensured he was properly cared for and extended every support necessary to help him regain his footing, ” he said.
Atiku said he also mobilised political support and made significant sacrifices that contributed to Obasanjo’s emergence as Nigeria’s president, stressing that he has no regrets over helping him.
“Do I regret helping Chief Obasanjo? Absolutely not. When God gives you the opportunity to lift another human being, you do so without expecting repayment, ” he said.
However, he maintained that acts of kindness should not be repaid with attempts to rewrite history.
Shifting focus to the nation’s current challenges, Atiku said Nigeria’s leaders should concentrate on solving pressing issues such as economic hardship, unemployment and insecurity instead of revisiting old political disagreements.
“The 2027 election should be about rebuilding Nigeria, restoring security, reviving the economy and giving hope to the next generation—not reopening old political wounds, ” he said.
He explained that he had remained silent for years out of respect for Obasanjo and the office he once occupied but insisted that silence should not be mistaken for weakness.
“There comes a point when silence in the face of repeated distortions of history ceases to be a virtue, ” he said.
Atiku concluded by saying his priority remains Nigeria’s future, expressing confidence that history would eventually judge all sides fairly.
“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 added.
