Key Takeaways
- Former President Olusegun Obasanjo denies deceiving leaders of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in 2003.
- Obasanjo claims his political engagements were guided by openness and national interest.
- The former President disputes Osoba's account of events surrounding the 2003 elections and the attempted impeachment of former Speaker Ghali Na'Abba.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has strongly denied allegations made by former Ogun State Governor, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, that he deceived leaders of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) during the 2003 general elections. In a letter dated July 23, 2026, Obasanjo described Osoba's account as farfetched and riddled with inaccuracies, omissions, and misconceptions.
Obasanjo took particular exception to Osoba's allegation that he deceived Yoruba political leaders, insisting that his political engagements had always been guided by openness and national interest. He argued that several political developments preceding his emergence as President in 1999 were unknown to Osoba because they were handled by senior leaders of Afenifere and the AD.
Recalling his engagements with the late Afenifere leader, Chief Abraham Adesanya, Obasanjo said despite being repeatedly told that Yoruba people would not vote for him, he continued to maintain cordial relations with the elder statesman. He also rejected Osoba's account of events surrounding the attempted impeachment of former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Ghali Na'Abba, alleging instead that the impeachment plot originated from within his administration.
Response to Allegations
On the 2003 elections, Obasanjo disputed Osoba's suggestion that the defeat of AD governors resulted from political manipulation by the Presidency. He said: “Your loss or defeat in 2003 was genuine in all the six states except the one where the figures were successfully and murderously changed. I have never believed in tribal politics.”
While criticising Osoba's interpretation of events, the former President acknowledged the former governor's contributions to Ogun State and to the establishment of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, OOPL, in Abeokuta. He commended Osoba for allocating the land on which the library stands, describing it as a landmark project that has benefited the state.
Why This Matters
The exchange between Obasanjo and Osoba highlights the complexities of Nigerian politics and the need for accurate historical records. It also underscores the importance of national unity and the need for political leaders to prioritize the country's interests above personal or regional agendas.