Former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has claimed that he saved the life of former President Olusegun Obasanjo during his imprisonment in the military regime.
Atiku made the claim during an interview with journalists, alleging that he obtained information about an attempt to administer a potentially fatal injection to Obasanjo and subsequently warned him about it.
According to the former vice-president, he also received information about an alleged similar plot involving the late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, whom he said he warned after learning of the alleged plan.
“I saved Obasanjo’s life in prison by leaking information about an impending injection that could have killed him,” Atiku said.
He said he advised Obasanjo not to accept the injection after being informed about the alleged plan.
Obasanjo was imprisoned during the military era. Following the return to democratic rule, the two men became political allies, with Atiku serving as vice-president under Obasanjo between 1999 and 2007.
Their political relationship later deteriorated, particularly over Obasanjo’s controversial third-term bid, which Atiku opposed.
Reflecting on their subsequent political differences, Atiku accused the former president of turning against him because of his opposition to the attempt to extend Obasanjo’s tenure beyond the constitutionally prescribed two terms.
“Today, he wants the world to hate me because I opposed his third-term ambition,” Atiku said.
Atiku’s latest claims come as he campaigns for the presidency under the ADC ahead of the 2027 general election.
