Atiku hits back at Obasanjo over fresh bribery allegation, questions timing ahead of 2027

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has rejected former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s allegation that he attempted to bribe the late former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba, to facilitate Obasanjo’s impeachment, describing the claim as politically motivated and unsupported by evidence.

In a statement issued on Friday, July 24, by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the allegation was both unfair and troubling because it relied on the name of the late Na’Abba, who is no longer alive to respond.

According to the former vice president, it was inappropriate to raise such an allegation after the death of the former Speaker, arguing that Nigerians had been denied the opportunity to hear the other side of the story.

“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?” Atiku said.

He also questioned why no legal action was taken during Obasanjo’s administration if there had been credible evidence to support the allegation.

“If there was indeed evidence of any criminal conduct as alleged, Nigerians are entitled to ask why no action was taken at the time by a government that wielded the full powers of the Nigerian state,” he said.

Atiku rejects bribery claim

Atiku further argued that the timing of the allegation, as political activities ahead of the 2027 general election gather momentum, suggested an attempt to damage his reputation and influence the political landscape.

He claimed the allegations were intended to give an advantage to Obasanjo’s preferred presidential candidate, although he did not identify any individual.

The former vice president also linked the latest accusation to his opposition to Obasanjo’s unsuccessful third-term bid while both men were in office. He said their political differences stemmed from his resistance to what he described as an unconstitutional attempt to extend presidential tenure beyond the constitutional limit.

According to Atiku, he chose to defend democratic principles and the Constitution, adding that the legal disputes arising from that period had become part of Nigeria’s democratic history.

Despite his criticism of Obasanjo’s remarks, Atiku said he would not be drawn into prolonged exchanges over events from more than two decades ago, insisting that national attention should instead be focused on Nigeria’s current economic and security challenges.

He cited rising food prices, increasing public debt, unemployment, insecurity and concerns over the management of public resources as issues requiring urgent attention from political leaders.

Atiku also said Obasanjo was free to support any candidate of his choice ahead of the 2027 presidential election but argued that such political preferences should be declared openly rather than advanced through allegations that cannot be independently tested.

He maintained that his political focus remained on presenting what he described as credible alternatives, strengthening democratic institutions and promoting accountability in governance, while urging greater attention to addressing the country’s pressing socio-economic challenges rather than revisiting long-standing political disputes.