Obasanjo Says He Regrets Picking Atiku As Vice-President

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed regret over his decision to pick Atiku Abubakar as his vice-president, saying he would not have chosen him as running mate if he had known what he later came to learn about him.

Obasanjo spoke on Friday during a fireside chat with activist Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, in Lagos.

The event was held to unveil Charly Boy’s foundation and his memoir, 999: A Memoir in Tribute to Late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa.

Obasanjo and Atiku served as president and vice-president respectively between 1999 and 2007, although their relationship became strained during Obasanjo’s second term.

Reflecting on their time in office, the former president said he was grateful that Atiku’s actions did not prevent him from focusing on the country or cause harm to Nigeria.

“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,” he said.

“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.”

Despite their longstanding political differences, Obasanjo said he had no bitterness towards Atiku over events that occurred during their time in office.

“And then, there is no bitterness because he did things that he believed he should do and God did things He had to do, which made me achieve what I was able to achieve,” he said.

Since leaving office, Obasanjo and Atiku have repeatedly exchanged accusations over corruption, abuse of office and political betrayal.

In his 2014 memoir, My Watch, Obasanjo accused Atiku of corruption, disloyalty and putting personal ambition ahead of the national interest.

Atiku rejected the allegations, accusing the former president of attempting to rewrite history and portray himself as a victim of political persecution during the final years of their administration.

Their longstanding dispute resurfaced 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 in office.

Obasanjo made the allegation while responding to comments by former Ogun State Governor, Olusegun Osoba, about the political developments that preceded the 2003 general election.

Atiku subsequently accused Obasanjo of fabricating allegations against him to advance the political interests of his kinsman ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Obasanjo has, however, openly expressed support for Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

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