Contrary to popular developments in the Nigerian political space of a mended relationship between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his erstwhile vice and a presidential hopeful under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the former Nigerian leader has cleared the air that his views about Atiku remain unchanged.
The former president in clear terms said Nigerians he won’t support Atiku’s presidential bid.
Obasanjo who spoke in a bare-it-all manner with Premium Times shortly after his arrival from Kigali on Friday afternoon said he would never pitch his tent with Atiku politically.
“How can I be on the same side with Atiku?” Obasanjo asked. “To do what?”
“If I support Atiku for anything, God will not forgive me. If I do not know, yes. But once I know, Atiku can never enjoy my support,” he added.
Obasanjo rejected all notions that his remarks could be deemed too personal, coming as 2019 presidential campaign gathers steam with Atiku amongst the front-runners.
The pronouncement comes barely two weeks after Atiku declared his intention to run for president, touting his pro-business credentials and lambasting President Muhammadu Buhari for his handling of the country’s security situation.
Before then, the former vice president, who has unsuccessfully run for the top office multiple times, spent the past few months criss-crossing the country as part of a strategy aimed at broadening his appeal amongst politicians and the electorate.
It also comes a little over a month after the two met at an event in Abuja and shook each other’s hands before photographers, days after reports said Obasanjo was under pressure to back Atiku.
“I do not have personal grudges with anyone,” Obasanjo said. “If you do not do well for Nigeria, you do not do well for all of us.”
“It is not a question of working with or not working with an individual,” he said. “If you are working for the good of Nigeria, I am working with you. If you are not working for the good of Nigeria it does not matter who you are I am not working with you.”
