Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has pushed back against allegations from ex-Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba, who recently claimed that Obasanjo misled South-West leaders during the 2003 elections. In a letter responding to an article by Osoba, the former president characterized those assertions as inaccurate and incomplete.
Obasanjo stated that he never acted with deceit, explaining that he always presented his political intentions clearly. He noted that certain complex matters were handled by senior members of the Alliance for Democracy and Afenifere, suggesting that Osoba may have lacked full awareness of those discussions. Furthermore, Obasanjo argued that South-West governors frequently excluded him from key deliberations, choosing to pursue their own agendas instead.
Regarding his entry into politics, Obasanjo detailed a series of nationwide consultations with influential figures such as Bola Ige, Sunday Awoniyi, and Arthur Mbanefo before he officially joined the Peoples Democratic Party. He emphasized that his decision to form a national government by involving the AD and PDP was a strategic move for national unity rather than a sign of political weakness.
The former president also made allegations concerning his former vice president, claiming that he attempted to orchestrate an impeachment of Speaker Ghali Na’Abba and plotted a 2007 leadership takeover with the support of AD governors. In closing, Obasanjo maintained that political engagement should be centered on ideas rather than personal animosity. He acknowledged Osoba’s previous assistance in securing land for the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta as a notable contribution.
