The media aide to Atiku Abubakar, Paul Ibe, has accused the Presidency of selectively quoting former President Olusegun Obasanjo to discredit his principal. Ibe made the accusation in a statement on Sunday in response to Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy. Onanuga had shared a video of Obasanjo criticising Atiku’s judgment and understanding of the responsibilities of the presidency.
In the video, Obasanjo was quoted as saying Atiku complained too much and failed to understand what it takes to be president. However, Ibe argued that the Presidency had ignored Obasanjo’s subsequent endorsement of Atiku ahead of the 2019 presidential election. On October 11, 2018, Obasanjo endorsed Atiku, saying the former vice president understood the economy better.
Ibe said Obasanjo had also acknowledged Atiku’s business experience, national and international connections, and capacity to perform better than the then-incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari. The media aide questioned why the Presidency would highlight Obasanjo’s criticism of Atiku while leaving out his endorsement of the same candidate.
Ibe added that political disagreements, reconciliations and alliances were normal features of democratic politics, arguing that references to past criticisms should also account for subsequent developments. He defended Atiku’s choice of Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate, saying Amaechi’s earlier criticism of the former vice president occurred when both men were competing for the ADC presidential ticket in May 2026.
According to Ibe, Amaechi emerged as Atiku’s running mate on June 15 and has since publicly defended their joint policy proposals. He referred to Amaechi’s remarks at the inauguration of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council on Friday, saying the former minister made it clear that the primaries were over and the party should concentrate on the task ahead.
Ibe maintained that citing political disagreements without acknowledging subsequent endorsements and reconciliations amounted to an incomplete representation of events. He accused the Presidency of applying a double standard in its use of Obasanjo’s statements about Atiku, saying it was disingenuous to invoke Obasanjo as an authority when he criticises Atiku and suddenly develop selective amnesia when he endorses him.
The exchange comes amid growing political exchanges between the Tinubu administration and the ADC presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general election. The Atiku camp's response is a reaction to the Presidency's apparent attempt to discredit Atiku using Obasanjo's past criticism, with Ibe insisting that the full context of Obasanjo's statements should be considered.
Key points
- Atiku Abubakar's camp accuses the Presidency of selectively quoting Obasanjo
- Obasanjo had endorsed Atiku ahead of the 2019 presidential election
- The exchange is part of growing political tensions ahead of the 2027 general election
