By By Elizabeth Ugbo
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Sunday accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of spreading false claims against him for over 20 years. Atiku made the accusation through his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, in Abuja, while reacting to Obasanjo’s latest claim involving late Speaker Ghali Na’Abba. Ibe said Obasanjo revived the allegation on July 23 as part of a long-running political dispute.
Atiku Rejects Obasanjo’s Allegation
Atiku described Obasanjo’s latest claim as part of a campaign of “lies, political manipulation and orchestrated deceit.”
Obasanjo had alleged that Atiku mobilised Na’Abba to remove him from office.
The alleged plot reportedly occurred during their tenure between 1999 and 2007.
However, Atiku’s media team rejected the claim and described it as baseless.
Ibe said Obasanjo often revives allegations against Atiku when elections approach.
“This time, he chose to make a man who passed away nearly three years ago the subject of his baseless allegation,” Ibe said.
Na’Abba, who served as Speaker of the House of Representatives, died in 2023.
Therefore, Ibe said the late lawmaker could no longer respond to the allegation.
Former Lawmaker Challenges Obasanjo’s Account
Ibe also cited former House of Representatives member Abubakar Bwari.
Bwari served as Chief Whip during the 1999–2007 sessions.
According to Ibe, Bwari contradicted Obasanjo’s version of events.
He said Na’Abba never sought Obasanjo’s removal from office.
Instead, Bwari reportedly said Atiku acted as an emissary to lawmakers for Obasanjo.
The claim directly challenges the latest account attributed to the former president.
Atiku’s Role in Obasanjo’s 2003 Re-election
The statement also revisited events surrounding the 2003 presidential election.
Ibe cited comments by former Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu.
Kalu reportedly said Atiku sought governors’ support for Obasanjo’s re-election.
“Atiku knelt down; we were like 17 governors,” Kalu said, according to Ibe.
He added that Atiku told the governors he would not betray Obasanjo.
Atiku reportedly reminded the governors that Obasanjo had trusted him.
Consequently, Kalu’s account challenges another narrative surrounding their political relationship.
That narrative allegedly claimed Obasanjo had to plead with Atiku for support.
Atiku Allegedly Rejected Presidential Plot
Kalu also reportedly said PDP governors had prepared the ground for Atiku to become president.
However, Atiku allegedly rejected the opportunity because of his loyalty to Obasanjo.
“Atiku was almost a President,” Kalu said, according to the statement.
He added that Atiku refused to betray Obasanjo despite having political support.
According to Kalu, Atiku believed Obasanjo had trusted him with the vice presidency.
Therefore, he chose not to pursue an alternative political arrangement.
PTDF Controversy Returns
The Atiku camp also revisited the controversial Petroleum Technology Development Fund investigation.
Obasanjo had asked the Senate to investigate alleged financial impropriety involving PTDF funds.
Atiku denied wrongdoing and agreed to face the investigation.
He maintained that the disputed funds remained in fixed deposit accounts.
Atiku also alleged that political motives influenced the investigation.
He linked the controversy to his opposition to Obasanjo’s third-term ambition.
Oba Adetona’s Account Cited
Ibe further relied on the autobiography of the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona.
The book, titled Awujale, reportedly contained details about the PTDF controversy.
Ibe cited the monarch’s account of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s treatment of businessman Mike Adenuga.
According to the statement, EFCC officials visited Adenuga’s Lagos residence on July 9, 2006.
They reportedly broke through the gate and detained him for questioning.
Oba Adetona reportedly linked the operation to alleged PTDF funds.
However, the account suggested that other issues existed beneath the investigation.
Atiku Camp Challenges Adenuga Allegation
Ibe alleged that authorities sought to connect Adenuga to Atiku through the PTDF investigation.
He also rejected claims that Adenuga used PTDF funds to obtain Globacom’s operating licence.
According to Ibe, Adenuga secured financing from BNP Paribas Bank for the transaction.
The statement also highlighted Adenuga’s relationship with Obasanjo after his detention.
Oba Adetona reportedly said Obasanjo later met Adenuga at a social event.
He then invited the businessman to Ota.
According to the account, Obasanjo sought Adenuga’s support for a project at Bells University.
Adenuga reportedly agreed to assist with the construction of an administrative block.
Cachez Turnkey Projects Ltd reportedly handled the project.
Political Dispute Spans More Than Two Decades
The latest exchange reflects the long-running dispute between Obasanjo and Atiku.
The two men once worked closely within the Peoples Democratic Party.
Obasanjo emerged as the PDP presidential candidate in 1999.
He later selected Atiku as his running mate.
The pair won re-election in 2003.
However, political disagreements later strained their relationship.
The disputes involved succession, corruption allegations and Obasanjo’s third-term ambition.
Atiku eventually left the PDP before the 2007 presidential election.
He contested the election under the Action Congress.
Atiku Remains Major Opposition Figure
Despite their political fallout, Atiku has remained a major figure in Nigerian opposition politics.
He is currently the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
Against this background, Ibe said Obasanjo’s latest allegation deserves scrutiny.
He accused the former president of repeatedly attacking Atiku’s reputation.
Ibe also argued that the latest claims would not withstand scrutiny.
Meanwhile, Obasanjo has yet to publicly respond to Atiku’s latest allegations.
His Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, declined to comment when contacted.
