Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s recent allegation that he bribed the late Ghali Umar Na’Abba to orchestrate his impeachment, describing the claim as an attempt to rewrite history and influence the political landscape ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said it was unfair to accuse the late Na’Abba of accepting a bribe when he is no longer alive to respond to the allegation.
He questioned why Obasanjo did not make the claim while the former Speaker was alive, arguing that raising such an allegation after his death denies Nigerians the opportunity to hear the other side of the story.
Atiku also noted that the accusation has never been backed by any judicial ruling or official finding, adding that if there had been credible evidence of wrongdoing, the government at the time had every opportunity to investigate and prosecute the matter.
The former Vice President further suggested that the timing of the allegation was politically motivated, claiming it was intended to tarnish his reputation and give an advantage to Obasanjo’s preferred candidate ahead of the 2027 general election.
According to Atiku, the strained relationship between him and Obasanjo dates back to his opposition to the former President’s alleged third-term agenda. He said he stood by the Constitution and the rule of law, successfully challenging actions taken against him through the courts, and argued that the political disagreements from that period continue to fuel Obasanjo’s criticism.
Despite the renewed exchange, Atiku said he would not be drawn into prolonged political disputes while Nigeria faces pressing challenges, including economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment, rising food prices and increasing public debt.
He maintained that Nigerians are more concerned about solutions to the country’s current problems than revisiting political disagreements from more than two decades ago.
Atiku added that while Obasanjo is free to support any candidate ahead of the 2027 elections, he should do so openly rather than making allegations that, in his view, cannot now be independently verified because the central figure involved is deceased.
He reaffirmed his commitment to offering what he described as credible alternatives, defending democracy, promoting accountability and working towards transparent and people-centred leadership for Nigeria.
