Obasanjo defends 2003 political moves, rebuts Osoba

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has rejected claims by former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba that he deceived South-West leaders during the 2003 political crisis, describing the allegation as “far-fetched” and full of omissions.

In a letter dated Thursday responding to Osoba’s article, How Obasanjo Deceived Us in 2003, the former president said he took “strong and serious objection” to being described as deceitful, insisting he never misled anyone.

Obasanjo recalled that after his release from prison in 1999, he was approached by several political groups, including those led by the late Chief Bola Ige and Martins Kuye, before deciding to join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He said he held consultations with prominent leaders across the South-West, North and East, including Chief Richard Akinjide, Chief Bola Ige, Sunday Awoniyi, Adamu Ciroma, Professor Anezi Okoro and Arthur Mbanefo, before making his political decisions.

According to Obasanjo, Osoba’s account ignored key events and failed to acknowledge that some issues were handled by senior Alliance for Democracy (AD) and Afenifere leaders, while South-West governors also withheld important matters from him.

The former president also dismissed Osoba’s claim that AD governors and Afenifere could dictate to his administration, insisting his decision to bring the PDP and AD into a national government was a demonstration of strength aimed at promoting national unity.

Obasanjo further alleged that his then vice president spearheaded the impeachment move against former Speaker Ghali Na’Abba and later plotted to take over power in 2007 with the backing of AD governors.

Despite the disagreement, Obasanjo said politics should be driven by ideas rather than bitterness and acknowledged Osoba’s contribution in allocating land for the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, describing it as the most significant landmark in Abeokuta.