By Sabiu Abdullahi
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has described his decision to choose former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as his running mate as the greatest regret of his political career.
Obasanjo made the remark on Friday during a fireside chat with activist Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, at the launch of Charly Boy’s foundation and the presentation of his memoir, 999: A Memoir in Tribute to Late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, in Lagos.
Obasanjo and Atiku served together as Nigeria’s president and vice-president between 1999 and 2007. Their relationship, however, deteriorated during Obasanjo’s second term in office.
Reflecting on that period, the former president said he was grateful that Atiku’s actions did not affect his administration or the country.
“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 his criticism, Obasanjo said he no longer harbours resentment toward his former deputy.
“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.
The relationship between the two leaders has remained strained since they left office. Over the years, they have repeatedly exchanged accusations over corruption, abuse of office and political betrayal.
In his 2014 memoir, My Watch, Obasanjo accused Atiku of corruption, disloyalty and placing personal ambition above national interest. Atiku rejected the allegations. He accused the former president of attempting to rewrite history and portray himself as the victim of political persecution during the final years of their administration.
The dispute 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 in office. Obasanjo made the allegation while responding to comments by former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba on events that preceded the 2003 general election.
In response, Atiku accused Obasanjo of fabricating the allegation to benefit his kinsman ahead of the 2027 general election.
Although Atiku did not identify the individual, President Bola Tinubu shares the same Yoruba ethnic background as Obasanjo. However, Obasanjo has publicly declared his support for Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
