Atiku’s Aide Paul Ibe Slams Obasanjo, Says “I Regret Ever Admiring Him

According to Ireporter Online, Ibe made the statement in a Facebook post on Sunday, shortly after Obasanjo described his decision to select Atiku as his running mate in the 1999 presidential election as the biggest mistake of his administration.

The latest disagreement has reignited discussions over the once-close political relationship between Obasanjo and Atiku, who governed Nigeria together under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) between 1999 and 2007.

Speaking during a fireside conversation with veteran entertainer and activist Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, in Lagos, Obasanjo said he would not have chosen Atiku as his deputy if he had possessed more knowledge about him at the time.

Reacting to the former president’s comments, Ibe advised Nigerians to read Bitter-Sweet: My Life with Obasanjo, a memoir written by Obasanjo’s former wife, Oluremi Obasanjo.

The aide described the book as a reflection of what he called the controversial aspects of the former president’s personal and public life, arguing that it presented a different perspective from the image often associated with him.

Ibe alleged that the memoir contained claims about personal challenges and controversies involving Obasanjo, including allegations of domestic issues and other private matters.

He argued that the accounts contained in the book influenced his perception of the former president and questioned what he described as inconsistencies between Obasanjo’s criticisms of others and allegations made against him.

“If I knew the things that I now know about Obasanjo, I would not have held him in very high esteem as I had done in the past,” Ibe stated.

He further accused the former president of hypocrisy, high-handedness and applying double standards in his public engagements.

The renewed clash between both camps follows years of political disagreements that emerged after Obasanjo and Atiku’s eight-year partnership in office ended.

The pair won the 1999 presidential election under the PDP platform and served together for two terms before their relationship deteriorated over political differences, leading to a prolonged public rivalry.