By Ayodele Oni
Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has predicted that only death can put an end to the long-running political rivalry between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Insisting that this may unlikely end soon, Sani pointed out that their disagreements have endured for decades and have outlived several generations of Nigerians.
According to Sani, in a post he shared on X, the feud has become one of the country’s longest-running political rivalries.
Reacting to the latest exchange between the two political figures, the former lawmaker used colourful language to describe the back-and-forth between the two leaders.
He remarked that the dispute began when many members of Nigeria’s younger generation were still children and has continued into a period when those same people have become adults with families of their own.
Sani argued that the rivalry has become so deeply rooted that it may continue for the rest of their lives.
He humorously suggested that only the passing of one of the two political heavyweights might finally bring the public exchanges to an end, adding that the surviving figure would probably pay glowing tributes to the other despite their years of disagreement.
He also likened the recent war of words to an exchange of increasingly powerful attacks, saying Atiku fired the first major political salvo in the latest round of disagreements, while Obasanjo has continued to respond with even stronger criticisms.
The latest comments follow renewed tensions between the former president and his one-time deputy, whose political relationship has remained strained since they left office.
Obasanjo recently reignited public debate after describing his decision to select Atiku as his running mate in the 1999 presidential election as one of the biggest mistakes of his political career.
The remark attracted widespread reactions across Nigeria’s political landscape and reopened discussions about the breakdown of their once-close alliance.
Atiku has since responded by criticising the former president on several occasions.
His remarks have revisited past political disagreements and decisions taken during their years in government, reflecting the deep divisions that have existed between the two men for many years.
The relationship between Obasanjo and Atiku has experienced dramatic changes since they first worked together at the start of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.
They entered office as political allies after winning the 1999 presidential election, but their partnership gradually deteriorated during their second term in office.
Their differences eventually became public and led to years of political confrontations, with both leaders often taking opposing positions on national issues and electoral contests.
Over time, the rivalry has remained a recurring feature of Nigerian politics, resurfacing during major elections and national debates.
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