OlusegunObasanjo
Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of repeatedly using former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as an “election-year scapegoat,” alleging that the former leader revives attacks against his ex-deputy whenever a general election approaches.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Frank described Obasanjo’s criticisms of Atiku as a recurring political strategy that Nigerians had grown weary of, arguing that the former President should accept responsibility for both the achievements and shortcomings of the administration they served in between 1999 and 2007.
He maintained that Atiku played a key role in assembling the team of technocrats and professionals credited with implementing many of the policies of the Obasanjo administration, insisting that it was unfair for the former President to attribute the government’s failures solely to his former deputy.
Frank argued that, as President, Obasanjo exercised the ultimate constitutional authority and therefore could not distance himself from decisions taken during his tenure.
Referring to military operations carried out in Odi, Bayelsa State, and Zaki Biam, Benue State, Frank challenged Obasanjo to account for controversial actions under his administration rather than continually directing public attention toward Atiku.
He alleged that the former President had developed a pattern of reviving old accusations against Atiku ahead of every election cycle, describing the practice as “stale and outdated.”
According to Frank, Obasanjo has every constitutional right to support any presidential candidate of his choice in the 2027 election but should openly campaign for such a candidate instead of, in his view, attempting to discredit Atiku.
He also dismissed claims portraying the former vice president as responsible for Nigeria’s challenges, arguing that Atiku had faced numerous investigations over the years without the outcome his critics had consistently alleged.
Frank further challenged Obasanjo to direct the same level of criticism toward the current administration, insisting that Nigeria’s immediate challenges deserved greater attention than repeated attacks on Atiku.
The former APC spokesman also claimed that Obasanjo’s political endorsements had not translated into electoral success for candidates he supported, arguing that the former President’s political influence had been overstated.
He said Atiku had deliberately refrained from responding personally to Obasanjo’s criticisms, describing the former vice president’s silence as an act of political maturity.
Frank urged Obasanjo to conduct himself as an elder statesman and emulate the restraint demonstrated by former Heads of State, including Ibrahim Babangida, Abdulsalami Abubakar and Yakubu Gowon.
He added that the choice of Nigeria’s next President would ultimately rest with the electorate, not with any political godfather.
“If it is destined for Atiku to become President, neither you nor anyone else can stop it,” Frank said.