By Adesina Soyooye
“When you had nothing, I fed you, clothed you, saw to the welfare of your family”
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, in an unusual strong response to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s continous jabs at him, has, without exactly using the words, dismissed the former President as ungrateful, selfish, unpatriotic.
In a stinging response to Obasanjo’s latest arrow aimed at him, Atiku told Obasanjo that unlike him, he (Atiku) chose Nigeria and its democracy over personal loyalty.
Atiku was Obasanjo’s Vice President from 1999 to 2007. Before Obasanjo picked him as his Vice President under a Peoples Democratic Party’s Government, Atiku was to be sworn in as the Governor of his home State, Adamawa on winning the 1999 Governorship Election. It is a “favour” Obasanjo has never stopped flaunting before Atiku.
In his latest, many say unprovoked dig at Atiku, Obasanjo brought “that favour” up again and added that he regretted picking Atiku as his Vice President. He described his pick as one of his greatest mistakes in life.
Reading mischief into his former Principal’s comments, especially, as the 2027 Presidential Election approaches, Atiku rose in defence of himself, and gave it back to Obasanjo.
Contrary to Obasanjo’s claim of doing him a favour, Atiku let it be known that it is, indeed, the other way round. He said he was the one who did Obasanjo favours. And he listed a couple of them.
For instance, said Atiku in his response signed by one of his very active Aides, Phrank Shaibu, when Obasanjo was jailed by maximum Military Head of State, late General Sani Abacha, over a false coup allegation, Atiku said he was the one who not only saw to his welfare, but also took care of Obasanjo’s family. In addition to that, Atiku said he was one of those who worked for and lobbied within and outside Nigeria for Obasanjo’s release from prison.
He, also, disclosed that when Obasanjo was eventually released by the General Abdulsalami Abubakar regime on the sudden death of Abacha, he, Atiku, was the one who not only fed him but clothed him because Obasanjo had nothing left, almost, when he was released from prison.
Atiku let it be known that for Obasanjo to become President in 1999, he played a major role for its actualization.
He then sought to question Obasanjo’s claim to love for country and accused the former President of allowing personal resentment to distort the history of the eight years both of them served Nigeria as President and Vice President.
Atiku revealed that the only wrong he did, for which Obasanjo resents him was that he vehemently
opposed the former president’s bid for a third term in office. On that, he emphasized: “I have no regrets.”
He said that his decision to oppose Obasanjo’s third-term agenda was based on his commitment to the Constitution and to Nigeria’s democracy.
He dismissed Obasanjo’s latest attack on him as an attempt to rewrite the history of their political relationship and his administration.
Watching and listening to Obasanjo berate him, Atiku said he was filled
“with profound sadness, not anger,” and added that they reflected a man whose personal grievances had overshadowed historical facts.
Atiku: “I am proud that I stood against the third-term agenda. I am proud that I stood by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I have no apology whatsoever for frustrating every attempt to subvert our democracy for personal ambition.
“If Chief Obasanjo’s bitterness stems from my refusal to support an unconstitutional third term, then I wear that resentment as a badge of honour.
“No individual, regardless of his status or accomplishments, is bigger than the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Constitution is supreme, and I chose Nigeria over personal loyalty.
“The Nigerian people won that battle. Democracy won that battle. History has already delivered its verdict.”
The now Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, also, dismissed Obasanjo’s
attempt to rubbish his contribution to the economic policies of the Obasanjo administration.
Proof of his capacity: Atiku pointed out to comments by the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who hailed the economic management team he led as Vice president to Obasanjo. Obasanjo’s attack came hours after Okonjo-Iweala’s commendation.
Atiku: “Whether or not the timing is merely coincidental is for Nigerians to judge. What is beyond dispute, however, is that while distinguished Nigerians who served at the highest levels continue to acknowledge my contributions to one of Nigeria’s most successful periods of economic management, Chief Obasanjo appears determined to diminish them.
“Chief Obasanjo may choose not to appreciate my role in building one of Nigeria’s most prosperous economic eras, but history has been far kinder. The record speaks for itself, and so do the testimonies of those who worked closely with that administration.
“History records that while Chief Obasanjo was in prison, I stood firmly by him. I supported his family, worked tirelessly with other patriots for his release and never wavered in my belief that he deserved his freedom.
“When he eventually regained his freedom, he had little to his name. I received him, clothed him, ensured he was properly cared for and extended every support necessary to help him regain his footing.
“Beyond that, I mobilised political structures, built alliances and made enormous personal and political sacrifices that culminated in his emergence as president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
“Do I regret helping Chief Obasanjo? Absolutely not. When God gives you the opportunity to lift another human being, you do so without expecting repayment. Acts of kindness are matters of conscience, not commercial transactions.
“If the true history of Chief Obasanjo’s political journey is ever written—free from selective recollection and personal bitterness—Atiku Abubakar will feature prominently as one of those whom God used to change the course of his life and political career.”
He advised Obasanjo to focus on Nigeria’s problems as the General Elections approach.
“The 2027 election should be about rebuilding Nigeria, restoring security, reviving the economy and giving hope to the next generation—not reopening old political wounds.?”
The former Vice President said he had intentionally distanced himself from responding Obasanjo’s previous criticisms because of his respect for the office Obasanjo had occupied and the relationship they once shared.
But he warned that his restraint should not be seen as an inability or unwillingness to respond.
Atiku: “That restraint should never be mistaken for weakness or docility.
“There comes a point when silence in the face of repeated distortions of history ceases to be a virtue. While I have no desire to engage in a public quarrel with a man I once stood beside in his most difficult moments, neither will I permit falsehoods, half-truths and calculated attempts to rewrite history to go unanswered.
“Chief Obasanjo is entitled to his opinions. He is entitled to his personal grievances. What he is not entitled to are his own facts.”
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