Atiku: I clothed, fed Obasanjo after prison release
The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has delivered a scathing response to Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, claiming he provided essential financial and personal support to the former president following his release from prison.
The exchange marks a significant escalation in the long-running feud between the two political heavyweights. It follows recent comments by Obasanjo, who described his decision to select Atiku as his deputy in 1999 as the “greatest mistake” of his life.
The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has delivered a scathing response to Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, claiming he provided essential financial and personal support to the former president following his release from prison.
The exchange marks a significant escalation in the long-running feud between the two political heavyweights. It follows recent comments by Obasanjo, who described his decision to select Atiku as his deputy in 1999 as the “greatest mistake” of his life.
Responding via a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku expressed “sadness rather than anger” at Obasanjo’s remarks. He argued that the former president’s hostility is not rooted in his performance as Vice President, but in lingering bitterness over the collapse of Obasanjo’s controversial “Third Term” agenda.
Pastoral support and prison days
In a detailed recollection of their history, Atiku claimed he stood firmly by Obasanjo during his incarceration under the Sani Abacha regime. He asserted that while Obasanjo was behind bars, he (Atiku) supported the general’s family and campaigned tirelessly for his freedom.
“History records that while Chief Obasanjo was in prison, I stood firmly by him,” the statement read. “When he eventually regained his freedom, he had very little to his name. I received him, clothed him, and ensured he was properly cared for, extending every support necessary to help him regain his footing before we built the political alliances that led to his presidency.”
The ‘Third Term’ dispute
Atiku further suggested that Obasanjo’s resentment stems from the former Vice President’s refusal to support an unconstitutional extension of Obasanjo’s tenure. He described his opposition to the Third Term bid as a “badge of honour,” stressing that he would never apologise for upholding the Nigerian Constitution.
“I am proud that I stood against the third-term agenda and by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Atiku stated. “I have no apology whatsoever for frustrating every attempt to subvert our democracy for personal ambition.”
He concluded by maintaining that no individual is greater than the country, arguing that the protection of democratic institutions must always take precedence over personal loyalty or political friendships.
