Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has stated that choosing Atiku Abubakar as his running mate for the 1999 presidential race remains the most significant regret of his career. He expressed this sentiment during a conversation with entertainer Charles Oputa, widely known as Charly Boy, at the launch event for the Charly Boy Foundation and the release of his memoir, 999: A Memoir in Tribute to Late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, held in Lagos.
Obasanjo and Abubakar secured victory under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) banner, governing together from 1999 until 2007. Despite the eventual strain on their professional and personal relationship, the former president emphasized that he holds no lingering resentment. He maintained that their partnership did not hinder his administration from successfully executing its objectives. Furthermore, Obasanjo dismissed ongoing speculation regarding his lineage, confirming that his ancestral roots firmly belong to Abeokuta, Ogun State, where the family residence remains intact.
