Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has declared that he has “no apology whatsoever” for opposing former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s controversial third -term bid, saying he chose to defend Nigeria’s Constitution and democracy over personal loyalty.
Atiku response followed Obasanjo’s recent remark that choosing him as his running mate in the 1999 election was the biggest political mistake of his career.
Atiku said he stood by Obasanjo during his incarceration and after his release from prison, adding that he made significant personal sacrifices that contributed to Obasanjo’s emergence as President in 1999.
Obasanjo’ had on Friday described his decision to pick Atiku as his running mate in 1999 presidential election as the biggest mistake of his political career.
Obasanjo made the remark during a fireside conversation with veteran entertainer and activist, Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, at the presentation of Oputa’s foundation and memoir, 999: A Memoir in Tribute to Late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa in Lagos.
In a statement issued on Saturday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described Obasanjo’s comments as “another failed attempt to rewrite history”
The former Vice-President also defended his opposition to Obasanjo’s controversial third-term bid, saying he had no regrets about choosing constitutional democracy over personal loyalty.
“I am proud that I stood against the third -term agenda. I am proud that I stood by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I have no apology whatsoever for frustrating every attempt to subvert our democracy for personal ambition.
“If Chief Obasanjo’s bitterness stems from my refusal to support an unconstitutional third-term, then I wear that resentment as a badge of honour. No individual regardless of his status or accomplishments, is bigger than the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Constitution is supreme, and I chose Nigeria over personal loyalty”, Atiku said.
According to him the struggle against third-term agenda was not a personal disagreement between him and Obasanjo but battle to protect Nigeria’s constitutional democratic.
“The people won that battle. History has already delivered its verdict,”, he added.
Atiku also challenged Obasanjo’s recollection of their political history, saying he played a significant role in helping the former military ruler return to political prominence after his release from prison.
“History records that while Chief Obasanjo was in prison, I stood firmly by him. I supported his family, worked tirelessly with other patriots for his release and never wavered in my belief that he deserved his freedom.
“When he eventually regained his freedom, he had little to his name. I received him, clothed him, ensured he was properly cared for and extended every support necessary to help him regain his footing.
“Beyond that , I mobilised political structures, built alliances and made enormous personal and political sacrifices that culminated in his emergence as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, he said.
Obasanjo and Atiku were elected President and Vice President respectively on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 1999 and were re-elected in 2003.
Their relationship, however, deteriorated during their second term, particularly over the controversy surrounding attempts to amend the Constitution to permit Obasanjo to seek a third term.
Atiku opposed the move and the disagreement contributed to the collapse of their political relationship.
The former President has repeatedly criticised Atiku since their time in office, while the latter has also defended his role in the administration and his opposition to Obasanjo’s third -term bid.
-9News Nigeria.
