Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has claimed that he played a key role in the release of former President Olusegun Obasanjo from prison under the late military ruler, General Sani Abacha, and personally supported his rehabilitation after he regained his freedom.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku made the assertions in a statement on Saturday while responding to recent criticisms by Obasanjo, saying the former president had ignored a significant part of their shared political history.
According to Atiku, he stood by Obasanjo throughout his imprisonment, supported his family and worked alongside other pro-democracy figures to secure his release.
“History records that while Chief Obasanjo was in prison, I stood firmly by him. I supported his family, worked tirelessly with other patriots for his release and never wavered in my belief that he deserved his freedom,” he said.
The former vice president further claimed that after Obasanjo was released from prison, he had little to his name and relied on his support to regain stability.
“When he eventually regained his freedom, he had little to his name. I received him, clothed him, ensured he was properly cared for and extended every support necessary to help him regain his footing,” Atiku said.
He also said he mobilised political structures, forged alliances and made “enormous personal and political sacrifices” that contributed to Obasanjo’s emergence as Nigeria’s president in 1999.
“Do I regret helping Chief Obasanjo? Absolutely not. When God gives you the opportunity to lift another human being, you do so without expecting repayment. Acts of kindness are matters of conscience, not commercial transactions,” he said.
