Atiku: I Chose Nigeria Over Obasanjo, Defended Democracy Against Third-Term Agenda

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has declared that his opposition to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s alleged third-term bid was motivated by his commitment to Nigeria’s democracy and constitutional order, rather than personal differences with his former boss.

In a statement issued on Saturday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku was responding to recent remarks by Obasanjo, which he described as an attempt to distort history and downplay his contributions to the administration that governed Nigeria between 1999 and 2007.

According to Atiku, his decision to oppose the constitutional amendment that would have allowed Obasanjo to seek another term remains one of the defining moments of his political career, insisting that protecting Nigeria’s democracy was more important than personal loyalty.

“I am proud that I stood against the third-term agenda. I stood by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. If Chief Obasanjo’s resentment is because I refused to support an unconstitutional third term, I wear it as a badge of honour. I chose Nigeria over personal loyalty.”

The former vice president maintained that the battle against the third-term agenda was a victory for the Nigerian people and democracy, stressing that history has already judged the episode.

Atiku also rejected Obasanjo’s alleged attempts to diminish his contributions to the economic successes recorded during their administration, citing recent comments by the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who reportedly praised the economic management team that served under the Obasanjo administration.

He argued that while respected public figures continue to acknowledge his role in the country’s economic reforms, Obasanjo appears determined to rewrite history.

The ADC presidential candidate further recalled his relationship with Obasanjo before the latter became president, claiming he stood by him during his imprisonment, supported his family, and played a key role in rebuilding his political career after his release.

“When Chief Obasanjo was in prison, I stood firmly by him. I supported his family, worked for his release, and later mobilised political structures and made enormous sacrifices that contributed to his emergence as President.”

Despite those efforts, Atiku said he harbours no regrets, adding that genuine acts of kindness should never be carried out with the expectation of personal reward.

Turning to the country’s current challenges, Atiku urged political leaders to focus on addressing insecurity, economic hardship and unemployment rather than revisiting old political disagreements.

“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” he added.

He also warned that his decision to remain silent over the years should not be interpreted as weakness, saying he would continue to challenge attempts to distort historical facts.

“History cannot be rewritten by bitterness or erased by repeated falsehoods. In the end, history will render its verdict—and so will the Nigerian people.”

Atiku reaffirmed that his focus remains on offering solutions to Nigeria’s pressing challenges, saying his commitment is to national renewal rather than personal disputes.