By Sabiu Abdullahi
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s criticism of him, insisting that he remains proud of opposing what he described as the former president’s third-term agenda.
Atiku’s response followed remarks made by Obasanjo during a fireside chat with activist Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, in Lagos on Friday. During the event, the former president said he regretted choosing Atiku as his deputy while they served together from 1999 to 2007.
Obasanjo said: “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.
“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.”
In a statement released on Saturday through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said he received Obasanjo’s comments with sadness rather than anger. He argued that the remarks reflected “the disposition of a man who has allowed personal resentment to cloud historical truth.”
The former vice-president maintained that his opposition to the proposed constitutional amendment was based on his commitment to Nigeria’s democracy.
“I am proud that I stood against the third-term agenda. I am proud that I stood by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Atiku said.
“I have no apology whatsoever for frustrating every attempt to subvert our democracy for personal ambition.”
He added that no individual is greater than Nigeria. He said if Obasanjo’s resentment arose from his opposition to what he described as the “unconstitutional third-term” bid, he would accept it with pride.
The controversy over the third-term agenda dates back to the 2005–2006 constitutional amendment process, when lawmakers considered a proposal that would have allowed presidents and governors to serve three four-year terms instead of the existing two-term limit. The Senate eventually rejected the amendment bill on May 16, 2006.
Atiku was widely reported to have played a key role in mobilising opposition to the proposal through engagements with lawmakers and other political stakeholders.
Reflecting on the episode, Atiku said the battle was about protecting democratic principles rather than settling personal scores.
“The Nigerian people won that battle. Democracy won that battle. History has already delivered its verdict,” he said.
The former vice-president also referred to comments credited to former Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who recently praised the economic management team that operated during the Obasanjo administration.
“Chief Obasanjo may choose not to appreciate my role in building one of Nigeria’s most prosperous economic eras, but history has been far kinder,” he said.
“The record speaks for itself, and so do the testimonies of those who worked closely with that administration.”
Atiku also recalled the role he claimed to have played during Obasanjo’s imprisonment and political return.
“History records that while Chief Obasanjo was in prison, I stood firmly by him,” the former vice-president recalled.
“I supported his family, worked tirelessly with other patriots for his release and never wavered in my belief that he deserved his freedom.
“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 further stated that he “mobilised political structures, built alliances and made enormous personal and political sacrifices that culminated” in Obasanjo’s emergence as president after his release from prison.
“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. Acts of kindness are matters of conscience, not commercial transactions,” he said.
“If the true history of Chief Obasanjo’s political journey is ever written—free from selective recollection and personal bitterness—Atiku Abubakar will feature prominently as one of those whom God used to change the course of his life and political career,” Atiku said.
The former vice-president also expressed disappointment that the former president had chosen to revisit past political disagreements at a time when Nigeria faces economic hardship, unemployment and insecurity.
“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 added.
He concluded by saying that although Obasanjo has the right to hold personal opinions, “he is not entitled to his own facts”.
The latest exchange adds to a long-running public feud between the two leaders. Since leaving office, both men have repeatedly accused each other of corruption, abuse of office and political betrayal. Their dispute intensified 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. Atiku denied the allegation and accused the former president of making false claims to advance political interests ahead of the 2027 general election.