Atiku Fires Back at Obasanjo, Rejects Impeachment Allegation, Accuses Ex-President of Rewriting History

Atiku Fires Back at Obasanjo, Rejects Impeachment Allegation, Accuses Ex-President of Rewriting History

By The Analyst Online Media

Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has strongly rejected allegations by former President Olusegun Obasanjo that he plotted to impeach him while they jointly served in office, describing the claims as a deliberate distortion of history aimed at reshaping public perception ahead of the 2027 general election.

Atiku's response follows recent remarks by Obasanjo in which the former President reportedly revisited the turbulent relationship that defined the latter years of their administration, alleging that his deputy sponsored efforts to remove him from office.

In a statement issued through his media office, Atiku dismissed the accusation as baseless and politically motivated, insisting that his record in government reflected loyalty, commitment to democratic principles, and unwavering support for the administration during its most challenging moments.

The former Vice President maintained that he stood firmly behind Obasanjo throughout their years in power, despite personal and political sacrifices.

According to him, attempts to portray him as a conspirator against the administration amount to an unfair rewriting of history that ignores the realities of the political events that unfolded during that period.

Atiku further expressed displeasure over Obasanjo's reference to the late former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na'Abba, in connection with the impeachment allegation, arguing that it was inappropriate to make claims against a deceased individual who is no longer alive to defend himself.

He described such remarks as inconsistent with the values of fairness and respect that should guide public discourse, particularly when they involve individuals who have passed on.

Reaffirming his long-held position, Atiku stated that his disagreement with Obasanjo arose principally from his opposition to what he described as unconstitutional attempts to alter Nigeria's democratic order, including the controversial third-term agenda.

He recalled that he chose to defend constitutional democracy through lawful means, even when doing so came at considerable political cost.

The former Vice President argued that history has already documented the events surrounding that era and warned against attempts to revise established facts for political convenience.

He urged political leaders to focus on addressing Nigeria's worsening economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment and governance challenges rather than reopening old political battles.

Political observers say the renewed exchange underscores the enduring rivalry between the two former allies, whose relationship deteriorated dramatically towards the end of the Obasanjo administration and has remained strained for nearly two decades.

With preparations for the 2027 presidential election gradually gathering momentum, analysts believe the latest war of words reflects the growing contest over political narratives, legacy and public trust.

For many Nigerians, however, the expectation remains that political leaders will devote greater attention to proposing practical solutions to the country's pressing socio-economic challenges rather than revisiting historical disagreements.

The Analyst's Take: As Nigeria inches closer to another election cycle, the resurgence of old political feuds may dominate headlines, but voters are increasingly likely to judge aspirants by the quality of their ideas, credibility, and capacity to address the nation's mounting challenges rather than by longstanding personal rivalries.