Atiku Rejects Obasanjo’s Na’Abba Bribery Allegations
Old political grudges die hard in Nigerian politics. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed fresh bribery allegations made by his former boss, Olusegun Obasanjo. Obasanjo claimed Atiku paid five million naira to former Speaker Ghali Na’Abba to trigger impeachment proceedings against him two decades ago. Atiku, through his media aide Phrank Shaibu, accused Obasanjo of weaponising the memory of a dead statesman. The late lawmaker passed away without ever confirming the alleged transaction. Former leaders routinely resurrect past grievances to influence upcoming election cycles.
The timing of the accusation reveals clear political calculation. Political parties are already positioning their candidates ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Atiku accused the former president of attempting to damage his reputation to benefit a preferred regional ally. Obasanjo reportedly made the claims in a recent letter responding to former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba. The former president could have made those allegations while Na’Abba remained alive. Waiting until principal witnesses die deprives the public of authentic truth.
The feud between both leaders stretches back to the turbulent early years of Fourth Republic democracy. Atiku insists his primary offence was opposing Obasanjo’s unconstitutional third-term ambitions in 2007. The former vice president successfully used federal courts to protect his office against presidential overreach. Obasanjo has never forgiven his former deputy for derailing his plans for an extended tenure. Legal proceedings were never initiated back then despite claims of criminal conduct. Re-hashing historical battles offers zero practical help to citizens facing acute economic hardship.
Atiku urged Obasanjo to declare his preferred presidential candidate openly instead of resorting to historical mudslinging. Opposition strategists view the former president’s intervention as an attempt to influence regional voter alignments early. Voters care far more about current food costs. Political elites remain obsessed with personal vendettas while the nation grapples with severe fiscal challenges. The African Democratic Congress candidate insists he will not waste energy on stale political squabbles. Public discourse requires forward-looking solutions rather than historical score-settling.