Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s criticism of him, describing it as another unsuccessful attempt to rewrite history while reaffirming that he remains proud of opposing the controversial third-term agenda.

In a statement issued on Saturday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said Obasanjo’s latest remarks reflected personal resentment rather than historical facts, insisting that resisting the third-term bid was a constitutional obligation.

“I am proud that I stood against the third-term agenda. I am proud that I stood by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I have no apology whatsoever for frustrating every attempt to subvert our democracy for personal ambition,” Atiku said.

He added that if Obasanjo’s criticism stemmed from his refusal to support an unconstitutional tenure extension, he considered such resentment “a badge of honour.”

According to Atiku, the struggle against the third-term agenda was never about personal rivalry but about safeguarding Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.

“The Nigerian people won that battle,” he stated.

The former vice president also referenced recent remarks by the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who described the economic management team under the Obasanjo administration as “the best Nigeria has ever had.”

He argued that the comments highlighted the achievements of the administration in which he served and contrasted them with what he described as Obasanjo’s attempts to diminish his contributions.

Reflecting on their political relationship, Atiku claimed he stood by Obasanjo during his imprisonment, supported his family and played a key role in rebuilding his political career ahead of the 1999 presidential election.

He said he welcomed Obasanjo after his release from prison, provided support, mobilised political structures and helped build the alliances that eventually led to his emergence as president.

Atiku maintained that he had no regrets over his actions, stressing that acts of goodwill should not be repaid with what he described as historical revisionism.

He further argued that any objective account of Obasanjo’s political resurgence would acknowledge his own contributions, while criticising the former president for revisiting old political disagreements at a time when Nigerians are grappling with economic hardship, insecurity and unemployment.

According to him, the 2027 general election should focus on rebuilding the economy, improving security and restoring hope rather than relitigating past political disputes.

Atiku also said he had exercised restraint for years out of respect for Obasanjo and the presidency but would no longer remain silent in the face of what he called repeated distortions of history.

Obasanjo had, on Friday, described selecting Atiku as his running mate in the 1999 presidential election as the biggest mistake of his life.

Speaking during a fireside chat with musician and activist Charly Boy in Lagos at the unveiling of the memoir 999: A Memoir in Tribute to Late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, Obasanjo said:

“The man I picked as my running mate, my number two. If I had known him as I came to know him later, I would not have picked him.”