Third-term bid: I defended democracy, not personal interest – Atiku replies Obasanjo: By Dally Iyamu
Third-term bid: I defended democracy, not personal interest – Atiku replies Obasanjo:
By Dally Iyamu
Former Vice President and ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has described his opposition to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s third-term bid as a defining moment in his political career, insisting he acted to defend the Constitution and Nigeria’s democratic order.
Atiku said his opposition to the failed constitutional amendment was guided by principle, describing it as one of the defining moments of his political career.
In a statement issued on Sunday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former Vice President dismissed Obasanjo’s recent remarks against him as an attempt to rewrite history.
He maintained that the former President’s persistent criticism stemmed from his refusal to support the controversial constitutional amendment that would have enabled Obasanjo to seek a third term in office.
According to Atiku, he has no regrets over his stance, insisting that no individual is greater than Nigeria or its Constitution.
He said the struggle against the proposed tenure extension was aimed at safeguarding constitutional democracy for future generations, adding that the victory belonged to the Nigerian people.
> “The Nigerian people won that battle, and history has delivered its verdict,” he said.
Atiku also accused Obasanjo of attempting to sit in judgment over those who resisted what he described as an unconstitutional ambition.
He cited recent comments credited to the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who reportedly commended the economic management team he led during the Obasanjo administration. According to Atiku, the remarks reaffirmed his contributions to Nigeria’s economic reforms.
The former Vice President further reflected on his relationship with Obasanjo before and after the former President’s release from prison, claiming he stood by him and his family during the period of incarceration, supported his political resurgence and played a significant role in building the alliances that culminated in Obasanjo’s election as President in 1999.
He said he harboured no regrets over those efforts, describing them as decisions guided by conscience rather than expectations of political reward or personal gratitude.
The latest exchange is the newest chapter in the long-running feud between the two political heavyweights, whose relationship has remained strained since they served together as President and Vice President from 1999 to 2007.
