‘My Biggest Political Mistake Was Picking Atiku’ – Obasanjo Opens Up

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has described his choice of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as his running mate in the 1999 presidential election as the biggest mistake of his political career.

Obasanjo made the remark in Lagos during a fireside chat with veteran entertainer, Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, at the unveiling of the Charly Boy Foundation and the launch of his memoir, 999: A Memoir in Tribute to Late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa.

The former president and Atiku were elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 1999 and served together as president and vice president until 2007.

Reflecting on his time in office, Obasanjo said that, in hindsight, he would not have selected Atiku as his vice-presidential candidate.

“I would say the greatest mistake I made was picking Atiku Abubakar as my vice president in 1999,” Obasanjo said.

He, however, noted “that he harbours no bitterness over the eventual breakdown of their relationship, adding that the challenges arising from it did not prevent his administration from achieving its goals”.

Obasanjo also addressed recurring discussions about his ancestry, insisting that his roots are in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where he said his family house still stands.