By Tolulope Oke
Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has made a startling claim about his past relationship with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, alleging that he saved the former leader’s life while he was in prison by leaking information about a deadly injection plan.
Atiku made the revelation while speaking with journalists amid his renewed war of words with Obasanjo over their political history and their roles in the events that produced the former president as Nigeria’s leader in 1999.
According to the former vice president, he received information about a plan to administer an injection on Obasanjo while he was incarcerated, which he claimed could have killed him.
“I saved Obasanjo’s life in prison by leaking information about an impending injection that could have killed him,” Atiku said.
He claimed a similar incident happened to the late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, adding that he warned Obasanjo not to allow the injection when he learnt of the alleged plan.
Atiku’s latest revelation comes as the former vice president and Obasanjo continue a public disagreement over their political relationship, especially ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The ADC candidate also accused Obasanjo of attempting to rewrite history, claiming that despite the support he gave him during his prison years and political comeback, the former president later turned against him over his opposition to the controversial third-term agenda.
Atiku said Obasanjo’s political strength has been exaggerated, arguing that the former president would not have emerged as Nigeria’s leader in 1999 without support from the northern political bloc.
“In 1999, he could not even win his own state or the South-west; it was Arewa that made him President. He possesses no electoral value,” Atiku said.
The former vice president also rejected claims that Obasanjo alone secured victory in the 1999 election, insisting that he played a major role in building the political structure that produced their administration.
He further highlighted his contributions during their time in government, saying he created opportunities for young Nigerians who later became governors, ministers and other public officials.
The latest exchange has reopened one of Nigeria’s most discussed political relationships, with the two former allies now on opposite sides of the 2027 political conversation.
