Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of using the memory of the late former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Na’Abba, for political purposes, following allegations that he bribed the former lawmaker to support moves to impeach him while they were both in office.
Atiku, in a statement issued by his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, described Obasanjo’s allegation as unfair and irresponsible, arguing that the late Na’Abba was no longer alive to respond to or clarify the claims made against him.
The former vice president said it was wrong to make such accusations after Na’Abba’s death, insisting that the former Speaker’s memory should not be dragged into political disagreements ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He denied ever offering Na’Abba a bribe to facilitate impeachment proceedings against Obasanjo during their time in government, describing the allegation as false and an attempt to rewrite history.
Atiku maintained that disagreements between political leaders should be based on facts rather than allegations involving individuals who are no longer alive to defend themselves.
He urged Obasanjo to respect the memory of the late former Speaker instead of using his death to revive old political controversies.
The latest exchange followed comments credited to Obasanjo in which he alleged that Atiku gave Na’Abba ₦5 million to back an impeachment plot against him during his presidency.
The renewed war of words has revived public attention on the long-running political rivalry between the two former leaders, whose relationship has remained strained since they left office.