Atiku faults Obasanjo over bribery allegation, says late Na’Abba cannot defend himself

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has rejected former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s allegation that he bribed the late former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba, to facilitate moves to impeach him while in office.

Mr Atiku, in a statement issued on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, described the allegation as an attempt to rewrite history and influence political developments ahead of the 2027 general election.

He argued that it was unfair for Obasanjo to make such claims after the death of Na’Abba, saying the former Speaker was no longer alive to confirm or deny the allegation.

According to Mr Atiku, the timing of the accusation raises questions because it was never made while Na’Abba was alive.

“It is 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,” the statement said.

“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.”

Mr Atiku further maintained that the allegation lacked judicial or official backing, insisting that no evidence had ever been presented to support claims of criminal conduct against him.

He questioned why no action was taken at the time if the alleged bribery actually occurred, noting that the administration then had full control of state institutions.

The former vice president also linked the renewed allegation to the emerging political contest ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

According to him, the objective of reviving the issue is to tarnish his reputation and create political advantage for Obasanjo’s preferred candidate.

“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,” he said.

Mr Atiku recalled that his longstanding disagreement with Obasanjo stemmed from his opposition to the alleged third-term agenda during the latter’s administration.

He said he stood by constitutional democracy and resisted any attempt to alter Nigeria’s constitutional order for personal political ambition, adding that his legal victories against the administration remain part of the country’s democratic history.

Despite the renewed exchange, Mr Atiku said he would not be drawn into prolonged arguments over political events of the past while Nigerians face worsening economic and security challenges.

He said the country’s immediate concerns include rising food prices, increasing public debt, unemployment, insecurity and questions surrounding the management of public resources.

“The task before leaders today is not to rewrite history but to rescue the future,” Atiku said.

He added that while Obasanjo was free to support any candidate ahead of the 2027 election, such support should be declared openly rather than being advanced through allegations involving a deceased person who could no longer respond.

The former vice president said his focus remained on providing what he described as credible alternatives, defending democracy, promoting accountability and working towards transparent and people-centred leadership for Nigeria.