Olusegun Obasanjo, a former president, has called his choice of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as his running mate in the 1999 presidential election his greatest error to date.
Obasanjo made the claim on Friday in Lagos while having a fireside conversation with activist and maverick musician Charly Boy. The purpose of the event was to present Charly Boy’s memoir, “999: A Memoir in Tribute to Late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa,” as well as his foundation.
Obasanjo claims that in retrospect, he would not have selected Atiku to be vice president.
“I would say the greatest mistake I made was picking Atiku Abubakar as my vice president in 1999,” he said.
The former president also expressed gratitude to God for preventing Atiku’s actions and excessive reactions from undermining his administration or diverting his attention from leading the nation.
Obasanjo’s inability to forgive Atiku after so many years raises questions about the depth of their past disagreements and the lingering wounds of their political relationship. Despite the passage of time, it seems that the memories and unresolved issues continue to haunt him, preventing genuine reconciliation. His continued fixation on Atiku suggests that he still has Atiku in mind, perhaps unable to fully move past the betrayals and disappointments of the past. May God have mercy on their souls and grant them the peace to heal and forgive.
