Obasanjo, Atiku Clash Deepens Over Bribery Claim

The exchange of words between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has intensified after Atiku rejected allegations that he bribed members of the House of Representatives, led by the late Ghali Umar Na’Abba, to remove Obasanjo from office before the 2003 general election.

The allegation was contained in a letter dated July 23 in which Obasanjo responded to comments by former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba on the 2003 elections. The reflections, published in The Legal Observer on July 20, revisited the strained relationship between the former president and his deputy.

Reacting through a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku claimed the allegation was being revived to tarnish his image and strengthen the political chances of Obasanjo’s preferred candidate ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The former vice president described the accusation as unfounded and unfair, arguing that it involved the late former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba, who is no longer alive to respond or defend himself.

Atiku also argued that making such a serious allegation against a deceased individual denied the public the opportunity to hear the other side of the story and made it impossible to verify the claim.

He further maintained that the allegation unfairly affected the reputation of the late Na’Abba, who could no longer defend his integrity or respond to claims that he accepted a bribe.

The former vice president questioned why no legal action was taken when the alleged incident supposedly occurred, insisting that if credible evidence had existed, the government at the time had enough authority to prosecute the matter.

He also suggested that the timing of the allegation was politically motivated, claiming it was intended to damage his reputation ahead of the next presidential election while benefiting Obasanjo’s preferred political ally.

According to Atiku, Nigerians would not be distracted by claims that resurfaced more than two decades after the events in question.

He also linked the renewed criticism to his opposition to Obasanjo’s controversial third-term agenda, maintaining that he chose to defend constitutional democracy instead of supporting an extension of presidential tenure.

Atiku said his decision at the time was guided by respect for the Constitution and the rule of law, adding that he successfully defended his position through several court judgments against the administration.

Despite the renewed accusations, the former vice president said he would not allow himself to become involved in prolonged arguments over political events from more than 20 years ago.

He argued that the country’s worsening economic and security challenges deserved greater attention than revisiting old political disagreements.

Atiku said Nigerians were more concerned about rising food prices, increasing public debt and the various controversies surrounding the current administration than disputes dating back to the early years of the Fourth Republic.

He added that although Obasanjo was free to support any candidate ahead of the 2027 presidential election, such support should be expressed openly rather than through allegations involving a deceased person who could no longer confirm or deny the claims.

The former vice president reaffirmed his commitment to promoting democratic principles, accountability, transparency and people-centred governance, saying Nigerians were looking for practical solutions to the nation’s current challenges rather than renewed political battles over the past.