Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo of exploiting the memory of the late former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Na’Abba, for political purposes.Atiku said Obasanjo’s claim that he bribed the late Na’Abba to orchestrate moves to impeach him as president while they were in office amounted to lies and disrespect to the dead.In a statement issued on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former Vice President described Obasanjo’s claims as “a desperate attempt to rewrite history” and influence the political landscape ahead of the 2027 presidential election.Obasanjo had while responding to comments made by a former governor of Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba, on the political developments that preceded the 2003 general election, alleged that Atiku gave N5m to Na’Abba to impeach him during his first time.However, Atiku, in the statement titled, “The grave is not a witness box,” argued that it was fundamentally unfair to make allegations involving Na’Abba after his death, when he could no longer respond or defend his reputation.He said, “As Africans, we understand the solemn duty of speaking truthfully about the dead. It is therefore deeply troubling that former President Obasanjo has chosen this moment to allege that I gave the late Rt Hon Ghali Umar Na’Abba a bribe to impeach him.“If this allegation were true, why did he never make it while Rt Hon Na’Abba was alive? Why wait until the only man who could confirm or refute the claim has departed this world?”“By invoking a deceased man as the principal witness to such a grave allegation, former President Obasanjo has denied Nigerians the opportunity of hearing the other side of the story.“The late Rt Hon Ghali Na’Abba cannot now defend his own integrity or respond to the allegation that he accepted a bribe. It is unfair to his memory and contrary to our cultural values to conscript the dead into contemporary political battles when they no longer have a voice.”The former vice president also questioned why no legal action was taken if the allegations were backed by evidence.Atiku further alleged that the timing of Obasanjo’s remarks was politically motivated, coming as political parties and aspirants begin positioning ahead of the 2027 general election.Related NewsFirm holds coding competition‘Poor tech access slows Nigeria’s digital economy’NBC pushes Ekiti, Kwara boundary deal to boost investments“Coming at a time when the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general election is taking shape, the obvious objective is to besmirch my person and reputation and confer an undeserved political advantage on the former President’s kinsman. Nigerians, however, know better. They are too discerning to be distracted by stale allegations resurrected for political convenience.”He also revisited the long-standing political rift between himself and Obasanjo, linking it to his opposition to the controversial third-term agenda during the latter’s administration.“My offence was that I stood firmly against the unconstitutional third-term agenda. As a democrat, I chose the path of constitutionalism and the rule of law. Rather than surrender democratic principles on the altar of personal ambition, I defended the Constitution and successfully asserted my rights through the courts in a series of landmark legal victories against a sitting President.“It is evident that the bitterness arising from that defining period has failed to leave former President Obasanjo,” he said.Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress in the 2027 election, said he would not be drawn into prolonged exchanges over events that occurred more than two decades ago while Nigerians grapple with pressing national challenges.“The task before leaders today is not to rewrite history but to rescue the future. Nigerians are more interested in knowing why food prices continue to soar, why public debt continues to rise despite increased revenues, and why scandal after scandal continues to trail the current administration than in revisiting political disagreements from over two decades ago,” he said.He added that while Obasanjo was free to endorse any presidential aspirant ahead of the 2027 elections, such support should be expressed openly.“If former President Obasanjo has chosen to take a political position ahead of 2027, he should simply declare it and allow Nigerians to judge it on its merits, rather than attempting to influence public opinion through allegations that can no longer be tested because the principal witness is no longer alive.”Relations between Obasanjo and Atiku have remained strained since the closing years of their administration between 1999 and 2007, particularly after Atiku opposed the proposed constitutional amendment widely seen as an attempt to secure a third term for Obasanjo.The disagreement triggered years of political and legal battles and has continued to shape public exchanges between the two former leaders. Atiku said Obasanjo’s claim that he bribed the late Na’Abba to orchestrate moves to impeach him as president while they were in office amounted to lies and disrespect to the dead.In a statement issued on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former Vice President described Obasanjo’s claims as “a desperate attempt to rewrite history” and influence the political landscape ahead of the 2027 presidential election.Obasanjo had while responding to comments made by a former governor of Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba, on the political developments that preceded the 2003 general election, alleged that Atiku gave N5m to Na’Abba to impeach him during his first time.However, Atiku, in the statement titled, “The grave is not a witness box,” argued that it was fundamentally unfair to make allegations involving Na’Abba after his death, when he could no longer respond or defend his reputation.He said, “As Africans, we understand the solemn duty of speaking truthfully about the dead. It is therefore deeply troubling that former President Obasanjo has chosen this moment to allege that I gave the late Rt Hon Ghali Umar Na’Abba a bribe to impeach him.“If this allegation were true, why did he never make it while Rt Hon Na’Abba was alive? Why wait until the only man who could confirm or refute the claim has departed this world?”“By invoking a deceased man as the principal witness to such a grave allegation, former President Obasanjo has denied Nigerians the opportunity of hearing the other side of the story.“The late Rt Hon Ghali Na’Abba cannot now defend his own integrity or respond to the allegation that he accepted a bribe. It is unfair to his memory and contrary to our cultural values to conscript the dead into contemporary political battles when they no longer have a voice.”The former vice president also questioned why no legal action was taken if the allegations were backed by evidence.Atiku further alleged that the timing of Obasanjo’s remarks was politically motivated, coming as political parties and aspirants begin positioning ahead of the 2027 general election.Related NewsFirm holds coding competition‘Poor tech access slows Nigeria’s digital economy’NBC pushes Ekiti, Kwara boundary deal to boost investments“Coming at a time when the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general election is taking shape, the obvious objective is to besmirch my person and reputation and confer an undeserved political advantage on the former President’s kinsman. Nigerians, however, know better. They are too discerning to be distracted by stale allegations resurrected for political convenience.”He also revisited the long-standing political rift between himself and Obasanjo, linking it to his opposition to the controversial third-term agenda during the latter’s administration.“My offence was that I stood firmly against the unconstitutional third-term agenda. As a democrat, I chose the path of constitutionalism and the rule of law. Rather than surrender democratic principles on the altar of personal ambition, I defended the Constitution and successfully asserted my rights through the courts in a series of landmark legal victories against a sitting President.“It is evident that the bitterness arising from that defining period has failed to leave former President Obasanjo,” he said.Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress in the 2027 election, said he would not be drawn into prolonged exchanges over events that occurred more than two decades ago while Nigerians grapple with pressing national challenges.“The task before leaders today is not to rewrite history but to rescue the future. Nigerians are more interested in knowing why food prices continue to soar, why public debt continues to rise despite increased revenues, and why scandal after scandal continues to trail the current administration than in revisiting political disagreements from over two decades ago,” he said.He added that while Obasanjo was free to endorse any presidential aspirant ahead of the 2027 elections, such support should be expressed openly.“If former President Obasanjo has chosen to take a political position ahead of 2027, he should simply declare it and allow Nigerians to judge it on its merits, rather than attempting to influence public opinion through allegations that can no longer be tested because the principal witness is no longer alive.”Relations between Obasanjo and Atiku have remained strained since the closing years of their administration between 1999 and 2007, particularly after Atiku opposed the proposed constitutional amendment widely seen as an attempt to secure a third term for Obasanjo.The disagreement triggered years of political and legal battles and has continued to shape public exchanges between the two former leaders. In a statement issued on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former Vice President described Obasanjo’s claims as “a desperate attempt to rewrite history” and influence the political landscape ahead of the 2027 presidential election.Obasanjo had while responding to comments made by a former governor of Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba, on the political developments that preceded the 2003 general election, alleged that Atiku gave N5m to Na’Abba to impeach him during his first time.However, Atiku, in the statement titled, “The grave is not a witness box,” argued that it was fundamentally unfair to make allegations involving Na’Abba after his death, when he could no longer respond or defend his reputation.He said, “As Africans, we understand the solemn duty of speaking truthfully about the dead. It is therefore deeply troubling that former President Obasanjo has chosen this moment to allege that I gave the late Rt Hon Ghali Umar Na’Abba a bribe to impeach him.“If this allegation were true, why did he never make it while Rt Hon Na’Abba was alive? Why wait until the only man who could confirm or refute the claim has departed this world?”“By invoking a deceased man as the principal witness to such a grave allegation, former President Obasanjo has denied Nigerians the opportunity of hearing the other side of the story.“The late Rt Hon Ghali Na’Abba cannot now defend his own integrity or respond to the allegation that he accepted a bribe. It is unfair to his memory and contrary to our cultural values to conscript the dead into contemporary political battles when they no longer have a voice.”The former vice president also questioned why no legal action was taken if the allegations were backed by evidence.Atiku further alleged that the timing of Obasanjo’s remarks was politically motivated, coming as political parties and aspirants begin positioning ahead of the 2027 general election.Related NewsFirm holds coding competition‘Poor tech access slows Nigeria’s digital economy’NBC pushes Ekiti, Kwara boundary deal to boost investments“Coming at a time when the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general election is taking shape, the obvious objective is to besmirch my person and reputation and confer an undeserved political advantage on the former President’s kinsman. Nigerians, however, know better. They are too discerning to be distracted by stale allegations resurrected for political convenience.”He also revisited the long-standing political rift between himself and Obasanjo, linking it to his opposition to the controversial third-term agenda during the latter’s administration.“My offence was that I stood firmly against the unconstitutional third-term agenda. As a democrat, I chose the path of constitutionalism and the rule of law. Rather than surrender democratic principles on the altar of personal ambition, I defended the Constitution and successfully asserted my rights through the courts in a series of landmark legal victories against a sitting President.“It is evident that the bitterness arising from that defining period has failed to leave former President Obasanjo,” he said.Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress in the 2027 election, said he would not be drawn into prolonged exchanges over events that occurred more than two decades ago while Nigerians grapple with pressing national challenges.“The task before leaders today is not to rewrite history but to rescue the future. Nigerians are more interested in knowing why food prices continue to soar, why public debt continues to rise despite increased revenues, and why scandal after scandal continues to trail the current administration than in revisiting political disagreements from over two decades ago,” he said.He added that while Obasanjo was free to endorse any presidential aspirant ahead of the 2027 elections, such support should be expressed openly.“If former President Obasanjo has chosen to take a political position ahead of 2027, he should simply declare it and allow Nigerians to judge it on its merits, rather than attempting to influence public opinion through allegations that can no longer be tested because the principal witness is no longer alive.”Relations between Obasanjo and Atiku have remained strained since the closing years of their administration between 1999 and 2007, particularly after Atiku opposed the proposed constitutional amendment widely seen as an attempt to secure a third term for Obasanjo.The disagreement triggered years of political and legal battles and has continued to shape public exchanges between the two former leaders. Obasanjo had while responding to comments made by a former governor of Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba, on the political developments that preceded the 2003 general election, alleged that Atiku gave N5m to Na’Abba to impeach him during his first time.However, Atiku, in the statement titled, “The grave is not a witness box,” argued that it was fundamentally unfair to make allegations involving Na’Abba after his death, when he could no longer respond or defend his reputation.He said, “As Africans, we understand the solemn duty of speaking truthfully about the dead. It is therefore deeply troubling that former President Obasanjo has chosen this moment to allege that I gave the late Rt Hon Ghali Umar Na’Abba a bribe to impeach him.“If this allegation were true, why did he never make it while Rt Hon Na’Abba was alive? Why wait until the only man who could confirm or refute the claim has departed this world?”“By invoking a deceased man as the principal witness to such a grave allegation, former President Obasanjo has denied Nigerians the opportunity of hearing the other side of the story.“The late Rt Hon Ghali Na’Abba cannot now defend his own integrity or respond to the allegation that he accepted a bribe. It is unfair to his memory and contrary to our cultural values to conscript the dead into contemporary political battles when they no longer have a voice.”The former vice president also questioned why no legal action was taken if the allegations were backed by evidence.Atiku further alleged that the timing of Obasanjo’s remarks was politically motivated, coming as political parties and aspirants begin positioning ahead of the 2027 general election.Related NewsFirm holds coding competition‘Poor tech access slows Nigeria’s digital economy’NBC pushes Ekiti, Kwara boundary deal to boost investments“Coming at a time when the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general election is taking shape, the obvious objective is to besmirch my person and reputation and confer an undeserved political advantage on the former President’s kinsman. Nigerians, however, know better. They are too discerning to be distracted by stale allegations resurrected for political convenience.”He also revisited the long-standing political rift between himself and Obasanjo, linking it to his opposition to the controversial third-term agenda during the latter’s administration.“My offence was that I stood firmly against the unconstitutional third-term agenda. As a democrat, I chose the path of constitutionalism and the rule of law. Rather than surrender democratic principles on the altar of personal ambition, I defended the Constitution and successfully asserted my rights through the courts in a series of landmark legal victories against a sitting President.“It is evident that the bitterness arising from that defining period has failed to leave former President Obasanjo,” he said.Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress in the 2027 election, said he would not be drawn into prolonged exchanges over events that occurred more than two decades ago while Nigerians grapple with pressing national challenges.“The task before leaders today is not to rewrite history but to rescue the future. Nigerians are more interested in knowing why food prices continue to soar, why public debt continues to rise despite increased revenues, and why scandal after scandal continues to trail the current administration than in revisiting political disagreements from over two decades ago,” he said.He added that while Obasanjo was free to endorse any presidential aspirant ahead of the 2027 elections, such support should be expressed openly.“If former President Obasanjo has chosen to take a political position ahead of 2027, he should simply declare it and allow Nigerians to judge it on its merits, rather than attempting to influence public opinion through allegations that can no longer be tested because the principal witness is no longer alive.”Relations between Obasanjo and Atiku have remained strained since the closing years of their administration between 1999 and 2007, particularly after Atiku opposed the proposed constitutional amendment widely seen as an attempt to secure a third term for Obasanjo.The disagreement triggered years of political and legal battles and has continued to shape public exchanges between the two former leaders. However, Atiku, in the statement titled, “The grave is not a witness box,” argued that it was fundamentally unfair to make allegations involving Na’Abba after his death, when he could no longer respond or defend his reputation.He said, “As Africans, we understand the solemn duty of speaking truthfully about the dead. It is therefore deeply troubling that former President Obasanjo has chosen this moment to allege that I gave the late Rt Hon Ghali Umar Na’Abba a bribe to impeach him.“If this allegation were true, why did he never make it while Rt Hon Na’Abba was alive? Why wait until the only man who could confirm or refute the claim has departed this world?”“By invoking a deceased man as the principal witness to such a grave allegation, former President Obasanjo has denied Nigerians the opportunity of hearing the other side of the story.“The late Rt Hon Ghali Na’Abba cannot now defend his own integrity or respond to the allegation that he accepted a bribe. It is unfair to his memory and contrary to our cultural values to conscript the dead into contemporary political battles when they no longer have a voice.”The former vice president also questioned why no legal action was taken if the allegations were backed by evidence.Atiku further alleged that the timing of Obasanjo’s remarks was politically motivated, coming as political parties and aspirants begin positioning ahead of the 2027 general election.Related NewsFirm holds coding competition‘Poor tech access slows Nigeria’s digital economy’NBC pushes Ekiti, Kwara boundary deal to boost investments“Coming at a time when the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general election is taking shape, the obvious objective is to besmirch my person and reputation and confer an undeserved political advantage on the former President’s kinsman. Nigerians, however, know better. They are too discerning to be distracted by stale allegations resurrected for political convenience.”He also revisited the long-standing political rift between himself and Obasanjo, linking it to his opposition to the controversial third-term agenda during the latter’s administration.“My offence was that I stood firmly against the unconstitutional third-term agenda. As a democrat, I chose the path of constitutionalism and the rule of law. Rather than surrender democratic principles on the altar of personal ambition, I defended the Constitution and successfully asserted my rights through the courts in a series of landmark legal victories against a sitting President.“It is evident that the bitterness arising from that defining period has failed to leave former President Obasanjo,” he said.Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress in the 2027 election, said he would not be drawn into prolonged exchanges over events that occurred more than two decades ago while Nigerians grapple with pressing national challenges.“The task before leaders today is not to rewrite history but to rescue the future. Nigerians are more interested in knowing why food prices continue to soar, why public debt continues to rise despite increased revenues, and why scandal after scandal continues to trail the current administration than in revisiting political disagreements from over two decades ago,” he said.He added that while Obasanjo was free to endorse any presidential aspirant ahead of the 2027 elections, such support should be expressed openly.“If former President Obasanjo has chosen to take a political position ahead of 2027, he should simply declare it and allow Nigerians to judge it on its merits, rather than attempting to influence public opinion through allegations that can no longer be tested because the principal witness is no longer alive.”Relations between Obasanjo and Atiku have remained strained since the closing years of their administration between 1999 and 2007, particularly after Atiku opposed the proposed constitutional amendment widely seen as an attempt to secure a third term for Obasanjo.The disagreement triggered years of political and legal battles and has continued to shape public exchanges between the two former leaders. He said, “As Africans, we understand the solemn duty of speaking truthfully about the dead. It is therefore deeply troubling that former President Obasanjo has chosen this moment to allege that I gave the late Rt Hon Ghali Umar Na’Abba a bribe to impeach him.“If this allegation were true, why did he never make it while Rt Hon Na’Abba was alive? Why wait until the only man who could confirm or refute the claim has departed this world?”“By invoking a deceased man as the principal witness to such a grave allegation, former President Obasanjo has denied Nigerians the opportunity of hearing the other side of the story.“The late Rt Hon Ghali Na’Abba cannot now defend his own integrity or respond to the allegation that he accepted a bribe. It is unfair to his memory and contrary to our cultural values to conscript the dead into contemporary political battles when they no longer have a voice.”The former vice president also questioned why no legal action was taken if the allegations were backed by evidence.Atiku further alleged that the timing of Obasanjo’s remarks was politically motivated, coming as political parties and aspirants begin positioning ahead of the 2027 general election.Related NewsFirm holds coding competition‘Poor tech access slows Nigeria’s digital economy’NBC pushes Ekiti, Kwara boundary deal to boost investments“Coming at a time when the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general election is taking shape, the obvious objective is to besmirch my person and reputation and confer an undeserved political advantage on the former President’s kinsman. Nigerians, however, know better. They are too discerning to be distracted by stale allegations resurrected for political convenience.”He also revisited the long-standing political rift between himself and Obasanjo, linking it to his opposition to the controversial third-term agenda during the latter’s administration.“My offence was that I stood firmly against the unconstitutional third-term agenda. As a democrat, I chose the path of constitutionalism and the rule of law. Rather than surrender democratic principles on the altar of personal ambition, I defended the Constitution and successfully asserted my rights through the courts in a series of landmark legal victories against a sitting President.“It is evident that the bitterness arising from that defining period has failed to leave former President Obasanjo,” he said.Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress in the 2027 election, said he would not be drawn into prolonged exchanges over events that occurred more than two decades ago while Nigerians grapple with pressing national challenges.“The task before leaders today is not to rewrite history but to rescue the future. Nigerians are more interested in knowing why food prices continue to soar, why public debt continues to rise despite increased revenues, and why scandal after scandal continues to trail the current administration than in revisiting political disagreements from over two decades ago,” he said.He added that while Obasanjo was free to endorse any presidential aspirant ahead of the 2027 elections, such support should be expressed openly.“If former President Obasanjo has chosen to take a political position ahead of 2027, he should simply declare it and allow Nigerians to judge it on its merits, rather than attempting to influence public opinion through allegations that can no longer be tested because the principal witness is no longer alive.”Relations between Obasanjo and Atiku have remained strained since the closing years of their administration between 1999 and 2007, particularly after Atiku opposed the proposed constitutional amendment widely seen as an attempt to secure a third term for Obasanjo.The disagreement triggered years of political and legal battles and has continued to shape public exchanges between the two former leaders. “If this allegation were true, why did he never make it while Rt Hon Na’Abba was alive? Why wait until the only man who could confirm or refute the claim has departed this world?”“By invoking a deceased man as the principal witness to such a grave allegation, former President Obasanjo has denied Nigerians the opportunity of hearing the other side of the story.“The late Rt Hon Ghali Na’Abba cannot now defend his own integrity or respond to the allegation that he accepted a bribe. It is unfair to his memory and contrary to our cultural values to conscript the dead into contemporary political battles when they no longer have a voice.”The former vice president also questioned why no legal action was taken if the allegations were backed by evidence.Atiku further alleged that the timing of Obasanjo’s remarks was politically motivated, coming as political parties and aspirants begin positioning ahead of the 2027 general election.Related NewsFirm holds coding competition‘Poor tech access slows Nigeria’s digital economy’NBC pushes Ekiti, Kwara boundary deal to boost investments“Coming at a time when the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general election is taking shape, the obvious objective is to besmirch my person and reputation and confer an undeserved political advantage on the former President’s kinsman. Nigerians, however, know better. They are too discerning to be distracted by stale allegations resurrected for political convenience.”He also revisited the long-standing political rift between himself and Obasanjo, linking it to his opposition to the controversial third-term agenda during the latter’s administration.“My offence was that I stood firmly against the unconstitutional third-term agenda. As a democrat, I chose the path of constitutionalism and the rule of law. Rather than surrender democratic principles on the altar of personal ambition, I defended the Constitution and successfully asserted my rights through the courts in a series of landmark legal victories against a sitting President.“It is evident that the bitterness arising from that defining period has failed to leave former President Obasanjo,” he said.Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress in the 2027 election, said he would not be drawn into prolonged exchanges over events that occurred more than two decades ago while Nigerians grapple with pressing national challenges.“The task before leaders today is not to rewrite history but to rescue the future. Nigerians are more interested in knowing why food prices continue to soar, why public debt continues to rise despite increased revenues, and why scandal after scandal continues to trail the current administration than in revisiting political disagreements from over two decades ago,” he said.He added that while Obasanjo was free to endorse any presidential aspirant ahead of the 2027 elections, such support should be expressed openly.“If former President Obasanjo has chosen to take a political position ahead of 2027, he should simply declare it and allow Nigerians to judge it on its merits, rather than attempting to influence public opinion through allegations that can no longer be tested because the principal witness is no longer alive.”Relations between Obasanjo and Atiku have remained strained since the closing years of their administration between 1999 and 2007, particularly after Atiku opposed the proposed constitutional amendment widely seen as an attempt to secure a third term for Obasanjo.The disagreement triggered years of political and legal battles and has continued to shape public exchanges between the two former leaders. “By invoking a deceased man as the principal witness to such a grave allegation, former President Obasanjo has denied Nigerians the opportunity of hearing the other side of the story.“The late Rt Hon Ghali Na’Abba cannot now defend his own integrity or respond to the allegation that he accepted a bribe. It is unfair to his memory and contrary to our cultural values to conscript the dead into contemporary political battles when they no longer have a voice.”The former vice president also questioned why no legal action was taken if the allegations were backed by evidence.Atiku further alleged that the timing of Obasanjo’s remarks was politically motivated, coming as political parties and aspirants begin positioning ahead of the 2027 general election.Related NewsFirm holds coding competition‘Poor tech access slows Nigeria’s digital economy’NBC pushes Ekiti, Kwara boundary deal to boost investments“Coming at a time when the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general election is taking shape, the obvious objective is to besmirch my person and reputation and confer an undeserved political advantage on the former President’s kinsman. Nigerians, however, know better. They are too discerning to be distracted by stale allegations resurrected for political convenience.”He also revisited the long-standing political rift between himself and Obasanjo, linking it to his opposition to the controversial third-term agenda during the latter’s administration.“My offence was that I stood firmly against the unconstitutional third-term agenda. As a democrat, I chose the path of constitutionalism and the rule of law. Rather than surrender democratic principles on the altar of personal ambition, I defended the Constitution and successfully asserted my rights through the courts in a series of landmark legal victories against a sitting President.“It is evident that the bitterness arising from that defining period has failed to leave former President Obasanjo,” he said.Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress in the 2027 election, said he would not be drawn into prolonged exchanges over events that occurred more than two decades ago while Nigerians grapple with pressing national challenges.“The task before leaders today is not to rewrite history but to rescue the future. Nigerians are more interested in knowing why food prices continue to soar, why public debt continues to rise despite increased revenues, and why scandal after scandal continues to trail the current administration than in revisiting political disagreements from over two decades ago,” he said.He added that while Obasanjo was free to endorse any presidential aspirant ahead of the 2027 elections, such support should be expressed openly.“If former President Obasanjo has chosen to take a political position ahead of 2027, he should simply declare it and allow Nigerians to judge it on its merits, rather than attempting to influence public opinion through allegations that can no longer be tested because the principal witness is no longer alive.”Relations between Obasanjo and Atiku have remained strained since the closing years of their administration between 1999 and 2007, particularly after Atiku opposed the proposed constitutional amendment widely seen as an attempt to secure a third term for Obasanjo.The disagreement triggered years of political and legal battles and has continued to shape public exchanges between the two former leaders. “The late Rt Hon Ghali Na’Abba cannot now defend his own integrity or respond to the allegation that he accepted a bribe. It is unfair to his memory and contrary to our cultural values to conscript the dead into contemporary political battles when they no longer have a voice.”The former vice president also questioned why no legal action was taken if the allegations were backed by evidence.Atiku further alleged that the timing of Obasanjo’s remarks was politically motivated, coming as political parties and aspirants begin positioning ahead of the 2027 general election.Related NewsFirm holds coding competition‘Poor tech access slows Nigeria’s digital economy’NBC pushes Ekiti, Kwara boundary deal to boost investments“Coming at a time when the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general election is taking shape, the obvious objective is to besmirch my person and reputation and confer an undeserved political advantage on the former President’s kinsman. Nigerians, however, know better. They are too discerning to be distracted by stale allegations resurrected for political convenience.”He also revisited the long-standing political rift between himself and Obasanjo, linking it to his opposition to the controversial third-term agenda during the latter’s administration.“My offence was that I stood firmly against the unconstitutional third-term agenda. As a democrat, I chose the path of constitutionalism and the rule of law. Rather than surrender democratic principles on the altar of personal ambition, I defended the Constitution and successfully asserted my rights through the courts in a series of landmark legal victories against a sitting President.“It is evident that the bitterness arising from that defining period has failed to leave former President Obasanjo,” he said.Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress in the 2027 election, said he would not be drawn into prolonged exchanges over events that occurred more than two decades ago while Nigerians grapple with pressing national challenges.“The task before leaders today is not to rewrite history but to rescue the future. Nigerians are more interested in knowing why food prices continue to soar, why public debt continues to rise despite increased revenues, and why scandal after scandal continues to trail the current administration than in revisiting political disagreements from over two decades ago,” he said.He added that while Obasanjo was free to endorse any presidential aspirant ahead of the 2027 elections, such support should be expressed openly.“If former President Obasanjo has chosen to take a political position ahead of 2027, he should simply declare it and allow Nigerians to judge it on its merits, rather than attempting to influence public opinion through allegations that can no longer be tested because the principal witness is no longer alive.”Relations between Obasanjo and Atiku have remained strained since the closing years of their administration between 1999 and 2007, particularly after Atiku opposed the proposed constitutional amendment widely seen as an attempt to secure a third term for Obasanjo.The disagreement triggered years of political and legal battles and has continued to shape public exchanges between the two former leaders. The former vice president also questioned why no legal action was taken if the allegations were backed by evidence.Atiku further alleged that the timing of Obasanjo’s remarks was politically motivated, coming as political parties and aspirants begin positioning ahead of the 2027 general election.Related NewsFirm holds coding competition‘Poor tech access slows Nigeria’s digital economy’NBC pushes Ekiti, Kwara boundary deal to boost investments“Coming at a time when the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general election is taking shape, the obvious objective is to besmirch my person and reputation and confer an undeserved political advantage on the former President’s kinsman. Nigerians, however, know better. They are too discerning to be distracted by stale allegations resurrected for political convenience.”He also revisited the long-standing political rift between himself and Obasanjo, linking it to his opposition to the controversial third-term agenda during the latter’s administration.“My offence was that I stood firmly against the unconstitutional third-term agenda. As a democrat, I chose the path of constitutionalism and the rule of law. Rather than surrender democratic principles on the altar of personal ambition, I defended the Constitution and successfully asserted my rights through the courts in a series of landmark legal victories against a sitting President.“It is evident that the bitterness arising from that defining period has failed to leave former President Obasanjo,” he said.Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress in the 2027 election, said he would not be drawn into prolonged exchanges over events that occurred more than two decades ago while Nigerians grapple with pressing national challenges.“The task before leaders today is not to rewrite history but to rescue the future. Nigerians are more interested in knowing why food prices continue to soar, why public debt continues to rise despite increased revenues, and why scandal after scandal continues to trail the current administration than in revisiting political disagreements from over two decades ago,” he said.He added that while Obasanjo was free to endorse any presidential aspirant ahead of the 2027 elections, such support should be expressed openly.“If former President Obasanjo has chosen to take a political position ahead of 2027, he should simply declare it and allow Nigerians to judge it on its merits, rather than attempting to influence public opinion through allegations that can no longer be tested because the principal witness is no longer alive.”Relations between Obasanjo and Atiku have remained strained since the closing years of their administration between 1999 and 2007, particularly after Atiku opposed the proposed constitutional amendment widely seen as an attempt to secure a third term for Obasanjo.The disagreement triggered years of political and legal battles and has continued to shape public exchanges between the two former leaders. Atiku further alleged that the timing of Obasanjo’s remarks was politically motivated, coming as political parties and aspirants begin positioning ahead of the 2027 general election.Related NewsFirm holds coding competition‘Poor tech access slows Nigeria’s digital economy’NBC pushes Ekiti, Kwara boundary deal to boost investments“Coming at a time when the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general election is taking shape, the obvious objective is to besmirch my person and reputation and confer an undeserved political advantage on the former President’s kinsman. Nigerians, however, know better. They are too discerning to be distracted by stale allegations resurrected for political convenience.”He also revisited the long-standing political rift between himself and Obasanjo, linking it to his opposition to the controversial third-term agenda during the latter’s administration.“My offence was that I stood firmly against the unconstitutional third-term agenda. As a democrat, I chose the path of constitutionalism and the rule of law. Rather than surrender democratic principles on the altar of personal ambition, I defended the Constitution and successfully asserted my rights through the courts in a series of landmark legal victories against a sitting President.“It is evident that the bitterness arising from that defining period has failed to leave former President Obasanjo,” he said.Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress in the 2027 election, said he would not be drawn into prolonged exchanges over events that occurred more than two decades ago while Nigerians grapple with pressing national challenges.“The task before leaders today is not to rewrite history but to rescue the future. Nigerians are more interested in knowing why food prices continue to soar, why public debt continues to rise despite increased revenues, and why scandal after scandal continues to trail the current administration than in revisiting political disagreements from over two decades ago,” he said.He added that while Obasanjo was free to endorse any presidential aspirant ahead of the 2027 elections, such support should be expressed openly.“If former President Obasanjo has chosen to take a political position ahead of 2027, he should simply declare it and allow Nigerians to judge it on its merits, rather than attempting to influence public opinion through allegations that can no longer be tested because the principal witness is no longer alive.”Relations between Obasanjo and Atiku have remained strained since the closing years of their administration between 1999 and 2007, particularly after Atiku opposed the proposed constitutional amendment widely seen as an attempt to secure a third term for Obasanjo.The disagreement triggered years of political and legal battles and has continued to shape public exchanges between the two former leaders. “Coming at a time when the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general election is taking shape, the obvious objective is to besmirch my person and reputation and confer an undeserved political advantage on the former President’s kinsman. Nigerians, however, know better. They are too discerning to be distracted by stale allegations resurrected for political convenience.”He also revisited the long-standing political rift between himself and Obasanjo, linking it to his opposition to the controversial third-term agenda during the latter’s administration.“My offence was that I stood firmly against the unconstitutional third-term agenda. As a democrat, I chose the path of constitutionalism and the rule of law. Rather than surrender democratic principles on the altar of personal ambition, I defended the Constitution and successfully asserted my rights through the courts in a series of landmark legal victories against a sitting President.“It is evident that the bitterness arising from that defining period has failed to leave former President Obasanjo,” he said.Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress in the 2027 election, said he would not be drawn into prolonged exchanges over events that occurred more than two decades ago while Nigerians grapple with pressing national challenges.“The task before leaders today is not to rewrite history but to rescue the future. Nigerians are more interested in knowing why food prices continue to soar, why public debt continues to rise despite increased revenues, and why scandal after scandal continues to trail the current administration than in revisiting political disagreements from over two decades ago,” he said.He added that while Obasanjo was free to endorse any presidential aspirant ahead of the 2027 elections, such support should be expressed openly.“If former President Obasanjo has chosen to take a political position ahead of 2027, he should simply declare it and allow Nigerians to judge it on its merits, rather than attempting to influence public opinion through allegations that can no longer be tested because the principal witness is no longer alive.”Relations between Obasanjo and Atiku have remained strained since the closing years of their administration between 1999 and 2007, particularly after Atiku opposed the proposed constitutional amendment widely seen as an attempt to secure a third term for Obasanjo.The disagreement triggered years of political and legal battles and has continued to shape public exchanges between the two former leaders. He also revisited the long-standing political rift between himself and Obasanjo, linking it to his opposition to the controversial third-term agenda during the latter’s administration.“My offence was that I stood firmly against the unconstitutional third-term agenda. As a democrat, I chose the path of constitutionalism and the rule of law. Rather than surrender democratic principles on the altar of personal ambition, I defended the Constitution and successfully asserted my rights through the courts in a series of landmark legal victories against a sitting President.“It is evident that the bitterness arising from that defining period has failed to leave former President Obasanjo,” he said.Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress in the 2027 election, said he would not be drawn into prolonged exchanges over events that occurred more than two decades ago while Nigerians grapple with pressing national challenges.“The task before leaders today is not to rewrite history but to rescue the future. Nigerians are more interested in knowing why food prices continue to soar, why public debt continues to rise despite increased revenues, and why scandal after scandal continues to trail the current administration than in revisiting political disagreements from over two decades ago,” he said.He added that while Obasanjo was free to endorse any presidential aspirant ahead of the 2027 elections, such support should be expressed openly.“If former President Obasanjo has chosen to take a political position ahead of 2027, he should simply declare it and allow Nigerians to judge it on its merits, rather than attempting to influence public opinion through allegations that can no longer be tested because the principal witness is no longer alive.”Relations between Obasanjo and Atiku have remained strained since the closing years of their administration between 1999 and 2007, particularly after Atiku opposed the proposed constitutional amendment widely seen as an attempt to secure a third term for Obasanjo.The disagreement triggered years of political and legal battles and has continued to shape public exchanges between the two former leaders. “My offence was that I stood firmly against the unconstitutional third-term agenda. As a democrat, I chose the path of constitutionalism and the rule of law. Rather than surrender democratic principles on the altar of personal ambition, I defended the Constitution and successfully asserted my rights through the courts in a series of landmark legal victories against a sitting President.“It is evident that the bitterness arising from that defining period has failed to leave former President Obasanjo,” he said.Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress in the 2027 election, said he would not be drawn into prolonged exchanges over events that occurred more than two decades ago while Nigerians grapple with pressing national challenges.“The task before leaders today is not to rewrite history but to rescue the future. Nigerians are more interested in knowing why food prices continue to soar, why public debt continues to rise despite increased revenues, and why scandal after scandal continues to trail the current administration than in revisiting political disagreements from over two decades ago,” he said.He added that while Obasanjo was free to endorse any presidential aspirant ahead of the 2027 elections, such support should be expressed openly.“If former President Obasanjo has chosen to take a political position ahead of 2027, he should simply declare it and allow Nigerians to judge it on its merits, rather than attempting to influence public opinion through allegations that can no longer be tested because the principal witness is no longer alive.”Relations between Obasanjo and Atiku have remained strained since the closing years of their administration between 1999 and 2007, particularly after Atiku opposed the proposed constitutional amendment widely seen as an attempt to secure a third term for Obasanjo.The disagreement triggered years of political and legal battles and has continued to shape public exchanges between the two former leaders. “It is evident that the bitterness arising from that defining period has failed to leave former President Obasanjo,” he said.Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress in the 2027 election, said he would not be drawn into prolonged exchanges over events that occurred more than two decades ago while Nigerians grapple with pressing national challenges.“The task before leaders today is not to rewrite history but to rescue the future. Nigerians are more interested in knowing why food prices continue to soar, why public debt continues to rise despite increased revenues, and why scandal after scandal continues to trail the current administration than in revisiting political disagreements from over two decades ago,” he said.He added that while Obasanjo was free to endorse any presidential aspirant ahead of the 2027 elections, such support should be expressed openly.“If former President Obasanjo has chosen to take a political position ahead of 2027, he should simply declare it and allow Nigerians to judge it on its merits, rather than attempting to influence public opinion through allegations that can no longer be tested because the principal witness is no longer alive.”Relations between Obasanjo and Atiku have remained strained since the closing years of their administration between 1999 and 2007, particularly after Atiku opposed the proposed constitutional amendment widely seen as an attempt to secure a third term for Obasanjo.The disagreement triggered years of political and legal battles and has continued to shape public exchanges between the two former leaders. Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress in the 2027 election, said he would not be drawn into prolonged exchanges over events that occurred more than two decades ago while Nigerians grapple with pressing national challenges.“The task before leaders today is not to rewrite history but to rescue the future. Nigerians are more interested in knowing why food prices continue to soar, why public debt continues to rise despite increased revenues, and why scandal after scandal continues to trail the current administration than in revisiting political disagreements from over two decades ago,” he said.He added that while Obasanjo was free to endorse any presidential aspirant ahead of the 2027 elections, such support should be expressed openly.“If former President Obasanjo has chosen to take a political position ahead of 2027, he should simply declare it and allow Nigerians to judge it on its merits, rather than attempting to influence public opinion through allegations that can no longer be tested because the principal witness is no longer alive.”Relations between Obasanjo and Atiku have remained strained since the closing years of their administration between 1999 and 2007, particularly after Atiku opposed the proposed constitutional amendment widely seen as an attempt to secure a third term for Obasanjo.The disagreement triggered years of political and legal battles and has continued to shape public exchanges between the two former leaders. “The task before leaders today is not to rewrite history but to rescue the future. Nigerians are more interested in knowing why food prices continue to soar, why public debt continues to rise despite increased revenues, and why scandal after scandal continues to trail the current administration than in revisiting political disagreements from over two decades ago,” he said.He added that while Obasanjo was free to endorse any presidential aspirant ahead of the 2027 elections, such support should be expressed openly.“If former President Obasanjo has chosen to take a political position ahead of 2027, he should simply declare it and allow Nigerians to judge it on its merits, rather than attempting to influence public opinion through allegations that can no longer be tested because the principal witness is no longer alive.”Relations between Obasanjo and Atiku have remained strained since the closing years of their administration between 1999 and 2007, particularly after Atiku opposed the proposed constitutional amendment widely seen as an attempt to secure a third term for Obasanjo.The disagreement triggered years of political and legal battles and has continued to shape public exchanges between the two former leaders. He added that while Obasanjo was free to endorse any presidential aspirant ahead of the 2027 elections, such support should be expressed openly.“If former President Obasanjo has chosen to take a political position ahead of 2027, he should simply declare it and allow Nigerians to judge it on its merits, rather than attempting to influence public opinion through allegations that can no longer be tested because the principal witness is no longer alive.”Relations between Obasanjo and Atiku have remained strained since the closing years of their administration between 1999 and 2007, particularly after Atiku opposed the proposed constitutional amendment widely seen as an attempt to secure a third term for Obasanjo.The disagreement triggered years of political and legal battles and has continued to shape public exchanges between the two former leaders. “If former President Obasanjo has chosen to take a political position ahead of 2027, he should simply declare it and allow Nigerians to judge it on its merits, rather than attempting to influence public opinion through allegations that can no longer be tested because the principal witness is no longer alive.”Relations between Obasanjo and Atiku have remained strained since the closing years of their administration between 1999 and 2007, particularly after Atiku opposed the proposed constitutional amendment widely seen as an attempt to secure a third term for Obasanjo.The disagreement triggered years of political and legal battles and has continued to shape public exchanges between the two former leaders. Relations between Obasanjo and Atiku have remained strained since the closing years of their administration between 1999 and 2007, particularly after Atiku opposed the proposed constitutional amendment widely seen as an attempt to secure a third term for Obasanjo.The disagreement triggered years of political and legal battles and has continued to shape public exchanges between the two former leaders. The disagreement triggered years of political and legal battles and has continued to shape public exchanges between the two former leaders.