Naming Atiku as My Running Mate in 1999 My Biggest Political Error – Obasanjo

Naming Atiku as My Running Mate in 1999 My Biggest Political Error – Obasanjo

• Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says picking Atiku Abubakar as his vice-presidential candidate remains the greatest mistake of his political career, though he harbours no bitterness over their fractured relationship.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has described his decision to select 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 in Lagos during a fireside conversation with veteran entertainer and activist Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy. The event was held to unveil Charly Boy’s foundation and his memoir, 999: A Memoir in Tribute to Late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa. The public presentation took place at the Alliance Française de Lagos/Mike Adenuga Centre on Osborne Road, Ikoyi. Reflecting on his years in office, the former president said that while every leader makes mistakes, his choice of vice president remained the one decision he regretted most. “The man I picked as my running mate, my number two. If I had known him as I came to know him later, I would not have picked him,” Obasanjo said. When Charly Boy sought clarification on whether he was referring to Atiku, Obasanjo replied, “My vice president. I don’t know what name you want to give him, but my vice president, I mean that.”

Despite his scathing assessment, Obasanjo insisted he harbours no personal bitterness toward his former deputy. “There is no bitterness because he did things he believed he should do, and God did the things God had to do, which enabled me to achieve what I was able to achieve,” he added. Obasanjo expressed gratitude that Atiku’s actions did not derail his administration or harm Nigeria. “What I know about him later makes me… thank God because God did not allow his actions and reactions to overwhelm me, or to divert my own focus from Nigeria, or to harm Nigeria even,” he said.

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The former president also addressed recurring discussions about his ancestry, insisting that his family traces its roots to Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. “I still know our family house there,” he said.

The event drew several distinguished guests, including former Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku; Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi; businessman Leo Stan Ekeh, who announced donations of N20 million each on behalf of Obasanjo and Chief Emeka Anyaoku; book reviewer Dr. Austin Tam-George; and veteran broadcaster Bisi Olatilo, among other notable personalities.

Obasanjo and Atiku contested the 1999 presidential election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and jointly governed Nigeria from 1999 until 2007. Their relationship, however, deteriorated during their second term in office following a series of political disagreements. In his memoir, My Watch, published in 2014, Obasanjo accused Atiku of corruption, disloyalty, and placing personal ambition above national interest. Atiku dismissed the allegations, accusing Obasanjo of attempting to rewrite history. The verbal exchanges intensified recently after Obasanjo alleged that Atiku gave former Speaker Ghali Umar Na’Abba N5 million to begin impeachment proceedings against him during his first term. Atiku denied the allegation and accused the ex-president of fabricating claims.

Naming Atiku as My Running Mate in 1999 My Biggest Political Error – Obasanjo