Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has described his decision to choose Atiku Abubakar as his running mate in the 1999 presidential election as the greatest mistake of his political career.
Obasanjo made the remark on Friday during a fireside chat with veteran entertainer and activist Charles Oputa at the unveiling of the Charly Boy Foundation and the launch of the memoir 999: A Memoir in Tribute to Late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa in Lagos.
Reflecting on his years in office, the former president said that with the benefit of hindsight, he would not have selected Atiku as his vice-presidential candidate.
“I would say the greatest mistake I made was picking Atiku Abubakar as my vice president in 1999,” Obasanjo said.
Despite the breakdown in their relationship over the years, Obasanjo said he harboured no bitterness toward his former deputy. He expressed gratitude that the disagreements between them did not derail his administration or prevent him from achieving his objectives while in office.
According to him, although the experience remains one of his biggest political regrets, he is thankful that it did not negatively affect Nigeria’s governance during his tenure.
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Obasanjo also addressed long-standing questions surrounding his ancestry, insisting that both of his parents were from Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State.
“I still know our family house there,” he said.
The event attracted several notable personalities, including former Commonwealth Secretary-General Emeka Anyaoku, Peter Obi, Leo Stan Ekeh, Dr. Austin Tam-George and veteran broadcaster Bisi Olatilo.
During the ceremony, Leo Stan Ekeh announced donations of ₦20 million each on behalf of Obasanjo and Anyaoku to support the newly launched Charly Boy Foundation.
