Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has responded to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, saying the former leader's recent criticism is driven by lingering anger over the failure of his third-term plan.
In a statement released by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said he felt disappointed after watching Obasanjo's recent interview.
He accused the former president of trying to change the story of past events because of personal resentment.
Atiku recalled that he supported Obasanjo during the period he was imprisoned.
According to him, he stood by the former president's family, worked with others to push for his release and continued to assist him after he regained freedom.
He said he helped provide for Obasanjo and played a part in building the political support that later led to his emergence as Nigeria's president.
His reaction followed Obasanjo's recent statement that one of his biggest regrets was choosing Atiku as his vice president.
Responding to that remark, Atiku defended his role in opposing the proposed third-term agenda during the Obasanjo administration.
He said he chose to stand by the Nigerian Constitution and democracy instead of supporting any move that would allow a president to remain in office beyond the constitutional limit.
He maintained that if Obasanjo's displeasure came from his refusal to support the third-term plan, he had no reason to feel sorry for that decision.
According to him, protecting the Constitution was more important than satisfying the personal ambition of any leader.
Atiku said the battle against the third-term proposal was not a personal disagreement with Obasanjo but a fight to protect Nigeria's democratic system.
He added that history had already shown that defending the Constitution was the right decision.
The former vice president also referred to comments made by the Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
He said she recently described the economic management team he led as one of the country's best, raising questions about why Obasanjo chose this period to attack his record.
Atiku insisted that he had never regretted helping Obasanjo in difficult times.
He said helping others should not be based on the expectation of receiving anything in return, adding that kindness should not later be repaid by attempts to change history.
He also expressed concern that the former president was focusing on old political disagreements while many Nigerians were struggling with economic hardship, rising unemployment and insecurity.
According to Atiku, discussions ahead of the 2027 general election should focus on solving the country's problems rather than revisiting past conflicts.
Atiku said he had remained silent for years out of respect for the office Obasanjo once held as president. However, he stated that there was a limit to remaining quiet when, in his view, past events were being presented incorrectly.
He concluded by saying that while Obasanjo had every right to hold personal opinions, no one had the right to alter historical facts. Atiku added that history and the Nigerian people would eventually judge the events and actions of the past.
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