Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has described his decision to choose former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as his running mate in the 1999 presidential election as the “greatest mistake” of his political career.
Obasanjo made the remark on Friday during a fireside conversation with veteran entertainer and activist Charly Boy in Lagos, where the latter unveiled his foundation and launched his memoir, 999: A Memoir in Tribute to Late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa. (Vanguard News)
Reflecting on his years in office, the former president said that, with the benefit of hindsight, he would not have selected Atiku as his deputy.
“I would say the greatest mistake I made was picking Atiku Abubakar as my vice president in 1999,” Obasanjo declared, drawing attention from attendees at the event. (Vanguard News)
Obasanjo and Atiku served together between 1999 and 2007, overseeing Nigeria’s return to democratic rule after years of military governance. However, their relationship deteriorated during their second term in office, culminating in a bitter political fallout over constitutional reforms and the failed third-term agenda.
The former president’s latest comments are expected to reignite debate over one of Nigeria’s most consequential political partnerships, particularly as Atiku remains a key figure in the country’s opposition politics ahead of the 2027 general election.
Neither Atiku Abubakar nor his representatives had publicly responded to Obasanjo’s remarks at the time of filing this report.
