Aide Reveals What Really Happened Between Obasanjo, Atiku

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s Senior Political Assistant, Demola Olarewaju, has described the longstanding disagreement between his principal and former President Olusegun Obasanjo as a political dispute rather than a personal conflict.

According to Ireporter Online, Olarewaju made the remarks on Monday during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM in Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State. He appeared on the programme alongside the Executive Director of the Centre for Responsive Governance, Ayodeji Ologun.

The comments followed renewed exchanges between the two former leaders after Obasanjo described his decision to select Atiku as his running mate in 1999 as the biggest political mistake of his life.

Obasanjo had also alleged that Atiku was involved in an attempt to impeach him in 2003, claiming that the former Vice President paid ₦5 million to then Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba, to initiate the process.

Atiku, through his media representatives, rejected the allegations, accusing the former President of engaging in a prolonged campaign of falsehood, deception and distortion of historical events.

The former Vice President also linked Obasanjo’s continued criticism of him to his decision not to support the former President’s attempt to secure a third term in office, arguing that he chose to defend the Constitution and Nigeria’s democratic principles rather than personal loyalty.

Reacting to the development, Olarewaju said Atiku continued to hold Obasanjo in high regard despite the political differences between them.

He argued that the major disagreement between the two former leaders was political, alleging that Obasanjo did not want Atiku to become President of Nigeria.

Olarewaju also questioned what he described as Obasanjo’s belief that no other Nigerian leader could match his achievements or govern the country better than he did.

The political aide further discussed Obasanjo’s activities after leaving office in 2007, describing his subsequent political journey as an effort to rebuild his relationship with the Yoruba community.

He linked this to Obasanjo’s history during the Nigerian Civil War and his subsequent political interventions in the South-West.

Olarewaju also compared Obasanjo’s relationship with successive administrations, arguing that the former President had been more critical of the governments of former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari than he had been of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

He further questioned the extent of Obasanjo’s political influence in the South-West, particularly his ability to determine electoral outcomes in the region.

Despite Obasanjo’s opposition to Atiku’s presidential ambition, Olarewaju maintained that supporters of the former Vice President remained committed to his political campaign and would not be discouraged by the former President’s position.

Also speaking during the programme, Ologun noted that Obasanjo’s position on Atiku appeared to have changed significantly over the years.

He recalled that Obasanjo had spoken favourably about Atiku ahead of the 2019 presidential election, including praising his knowledge of governance and ability to manage the affairs of the country.

Ologun also pointed to the close working relationship between Obasanjo and Atiku during their time in government, arguing that Atiku played an important role in the administration.

He said the subsequent decision by Obasanjo to oppose Atiku’s presidential ambition in 2023, and his continued criticism of the former Vice President, raised questions about the reasons behind the change in position.

Ologun maintained that Atiku had not wronged Obasanjo and argued that the former President’s continued opposition to Atiku was politically motivated.