Atiku Abubakar, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, has hit back at Olusegun Obasanjo over a decades-old bribery claim. He says the former president is dredging up an unproven allegation against the late Ghali Umar Na'Abba to shape the 2027 election race.
Obasanjo recently claimed that Atiku tried to bribe Na'Abba to push for his impeachment while he was president. Atiku rejected this as a politically motivated attack.
In a statement Friday through his aide Phrank Shaibu, Atiku urged Obasanjo to simply declare which candidate he backs. He said raising claims about a dead man—who can't respond—is unfair to Nigerians.
The timing troubles Atiku. As 2027 election momentum builds, he believes Obasanjo is trying to damage his image and boost a preferred kinsman's bid.
"The obvious objective is to tarnish my reputation and confer an undeserved political advantage on the former president's kinsman," Atiku said. He argued that Nigerians won't be swayed by what he called recycled political attacks.
Atiku posed a key question: why didn't Obasanjo raise this while Na'Abba was alive? He said doing so now robs Nigerians of hearing both sides of the story.
He also challenged Obasanjo's silence during his own presidency. If the bribery evidence was real, Atiku asked, why didn't the government take action when it had full state power?
"If there was indeed evidence of any criminal conduct as alleged, Nigerians are entitled to ask why no action was taken at the time by a government that wielded the full powers of the Nigerian state," he said.
Atiku traced their feud back years. He said he opposed Obasanjo's failed third-term bid and defended Nigeria's constitution through legal challenges that strengthened democracy.
According to him, Obasanjo still resents that episode. But Atiku insisted he won't let old political quarrels overshadow pressing national issues.
Nigeria faces economic hardship, insecurity, joblessness and hunger. Atiku said his energy belongs there, not in rehashing past disputes.
He vowed to focus on policy ideas, stronger institutions, accountability and working with other stakeholders. His goal, he said, is delivering competent, transparent and people-centred leadership for 2027.
The clash reflects intensifying political manoeuvring as 2027 draws closer. Observers view the latest exchange as a sign that alignments and rivalries are sharpening across the country's political landscape.
