Obasanjo, Atiku Clash Over Impeachment Bribery Claim

According to Obasanjo, Atiku held a private meeting with Na’Abba at the presidency and persuaded him that he should serve only one term as president.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar have reignited their long-running political feud over allegations surrounding an alleged impeachment plot during Obasanjo's first term in office.

Obasanjo claimed Atiku gave the late former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba, ₦5 million to initiate impeachment proceedings against him. The former president made the allegation while responding to comments by former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba on the political events leading up to the 2003 general election.

According to Obasanjo, Atiku held a private meeting with Na’Abba at the presidency and persuaded him that he should serve only one term as president.

“On the Friday, Atiku invited Na’Abba; he gave him ₦5 million to begin his impeachment work. It was all noted, recorded and reported to me by my Chief of Staff, a professional intelligence officer,” Obasanjo alleged.

He added that although the impeachment move was brought to his attention, he was not worried because he believed there were no constitutional grounds for his removal from office.

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

He questioned why Obasanjo raised the allegation only after Na’Abba's death, arguing that the late former speaker was no longer alive to confirm or deny the claim.

“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?” Atiku said.

The former vice-president also challenged Obasanjo to explain why no legal action was taken at the time if there was evidence of wrongdoing.

Atiku further alleged that Obasanjo's lingering resentment stemmed from his opposition to the former president's failed third-term agenda, insisting he defended Nigeria's constitution and democracy during that period.

He urged political leaders to focus on addressing Nigeria's pressing challenges, including economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment and rising public debt, rather than revisiting political disputes from more than two decades ago.

While acknowledging Obasanjo's right to support any candidate ahead of the 2027 elections, Atiku said such support should be declared openly instead of relying on allegations that can no longer be independently verified because one of the principal figures involved is deceased.