Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has hit back at former President Olusegun Obasanjo over his refusal to support his 2027 presidential ambition
He said the former leader lacks the electoral strength being attributed to him
Atiku spoke while responding to questions from journalists on Obasanjo’s position ahead of the 2027 general election
The former vice president said he was not bothered by the former president’s decision
He argued that Obasanjo had never demonstrated the electoral capacity to determine the outcome of a presidential election
“In 1999, he could not even win his own state or the Southwest; it was Arewa that made him President He possesses no electoral value,” Atiku fired at his former boss.
The comment came shortly after Obasanjo renewed his criticism of his former deputy
He had described his decision to choose Atiku as his running mate in 1999 as the biggest mistake he made as president
Obasanjo, who governed Nigeria from 1999 to 2007, said he would not have picked Atiku had he known him at the time as well as he later came to know him
Atiku, in response, maintained that he had no apology for opposing Obasanjo’s controversial third term ambition
He insisted that his position was based on the need to defend the Constitution and democratic principles
The disagreement over the third term project was one of the major issues that damaged the relationship between the two men during their second term in office
Atiku allegedly had presidential ambitions at the time and became a leading opponent of attempts to amend the Constitution to allow Obasanjo to remain in office beyond two terms
The disagreement later extended to allegations of corruption and abuse of office involving Atiku, particularly over the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF)
Atiku denied the allegations and accused the Obasanjo administration of using state institutions against him because of his opposition to the third term plan
The dispute eventually led to Atiku leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and contesting the 2007 presidential election on the platform of the Action Congress
He lost the election to Umaru Musa Yar’Adua of the PDP
But despite their bitter separation, Obasanjo and Atiku reconciled ahead of the 2019 presidential election
Obasanjo, who had earlier opposed Atiku’s presidential ambition, eventually endorsed his former deputy after a reconciliation meeting in his Abeokuta home
Atiku contested against Muhammadu Buhari in the election but lost
Obasanjo subsequently declined to support Atiku in the 2023 presidential election and instead endorsed Peter Obi, the Labour Party candidate and Atiku’s former running mate in 2019
Obasanjo described Obi as having an advantage over the other presidential candidates in character, antecedents, knowledge, discipline and vitality
Atiku again contested the 2023 election but lost to Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC)
The former vice president is now seeking the presidency for the 2027 election under the ADC, with Tinubu expected to seek re-election on the APC platform
His latest comments have therefore brought his long running disagreement with Obasanjo back into the 2027 political contest
Atiku also used the occasion to highlight what he described as his record of creating opportunities for young Nigerians during his time as vice president
He said several people who served under him later became governors, ministers, directors and other public office holders
According to him, his administration, if elected in 2027, would provide similar opportunities for younger Nigerians to participate in governance
The former vice president said he would continue to create opportunities for young people to rise into positions of responsibility
His remarks came as political parties and presidential aspirants intensified preparations for the 2027 general election, with economic hardship, insecurity, governance and the search for a credible alternative expected to feature prominently in the campaign
Atiku’s latest attack on Obasanjo has added a fresh dimension to the long running disagreement between the two former occupants of Aso Rock
Their relationship has moved from political partnership to bitter rivalry