27 Years Later, Obasanjo Says Atiku Choice Was His ‘Biggest Regret’

By Eshioromeh Sebastian

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has once again opened up about his fractured political relationship with his one-time vice, declaring that his decision to pick Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as his running mate in the 1999 presidential election remains the single greatest regret of his life.

This is coming 27 years after the ticket was formed.

Obasanjo made the stunning admission on Friday in Lagos during a fireside chat with veteran musician and activist Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy.

The event, which drew a crowd of dignitaries, was held to unveil Charly Boy’s foundation and his memoir, “999: A Memoir in Tribute to Late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa.”

Speaking candidly before an audience that included former Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku, 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, and tech mogul Leo Stan Ekeh, Obasanjo did not mince words about his decision to bring Atiku onto the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket in the lead-up to Nigeria’s return to civilian rule.

“I would say the greatest mistake I made was picking Atiku Abubakar as my vice president in 1999,” Obasanjo stated bluntly.

The former president, who ruled Nigeria from 1999 to 2007, reflected on the turbulence that marked their second term in office, noting that their political differences became increasingly pronounced after the 2003 re-election. Despite the friction, Obasanjo expressed gratitude that Atiku’s actions did not succeed in derailing his administration’s agenda.

“There is no bitterness in me over what happened,” Obasanjo clarified. “Despite everything, I was able to achieve what I set out to achieve while in power. But with hindsight, I would not have chosen him.”

The relationship between Obasanjo and Atiku, once a formidable political alliance, soured dramatically during their second tenure, culminating in a bitter public feud.

Atiku later defected from the PDP and has run for president multiple times on various platforms, including most recently in 2023.

Beyond the political revelations, Obasanjo also addressed the long-running controversy surrounding his ethnic origins. He firmly stated that his parents hailed from Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, adding, “I still know our family house there.”

The event was not without its moments of generosity. Leo Stan Ekeh, founder of Zinox Group, donated N20 million each on behalf of Obasanjo and Chief Emeka Anyaoku in support of Charly Boy’s foundation.

Other notable attendees included book reviewer Dr Austin Tam-George and veteran broadcaster Bisi Olatilo.

Obasanjo and Atiku ran together on the PDP platform from 1999 to 2007, winning two consecutive elections. However, their fallout became one of the most defining political rivalries in Nigeria’s modern history, with both men remaining influential figures in the country’s political landscape to this day.