The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has defended his decision to oppose former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s failed third-term bid, saying he chose to protect Nigeria’s Constitution and democratic order over personal loyalty.
The former Vice President said his stance was based on principle and remains one of the defining moments of his political career.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said Obasanjo’s recent remarks against him were an attempt to rewrite history.
He argued that the former President’s longstanding criticism of him was rooted in his refusal to support the controversial constitutional amendment that would have allowed Obasanjo to seek a third term in office.
Atiku maintained that he had no regrets for opposing the third-term agenda, insisting that no individual is greater than Nigeria or its Constitution.
According to him, the battle against the proposed tenure extension was about preserving constitutional democracy for future generations, adding that “the Nigerian people won that battle” and history had already delivered its verdict.
The former Vice President also faulted Obasanjo for, in his words, attempting to judge those who resisted what he described as an unconstitutional ambition.
He cited recent remarks by the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who reportedly praised the economic management team he led during the Obasanjo administration, saying the recognition underscored his contributions to Nigeria’s economic reforms.
Atiku further recalled his relationship with Obasanjo before and after the latter’s release from prison, claiming he supported the former President and his family during the incarceration, helped him rebuild politically, and contributed significantly to the alliances that led to his election as President in 1999.
He said he does not regret those actions, describing them as acts of conscience rather than transactions requiring repayment.
The latest exchange adds to the long-running public disagreement between the two political figures, whose relationship has remained strained since their time in office despite serving together as President and Vice President between 1999 and 2007.
