Atiku's Rift with Obasanjo Over Third-Term Agenda Revealed

Kenneth Okonkwo, the campaign spokesman for Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), stated that the rift between Atiku and former President Olusegun Obasanjo stemmed from Atiku's refusal to support Obasanjo's third-term ambition in 2007. In an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Okonkwo recounted that Obasanjo had sent delegates to Atiku to solicit his support for the third-term agenda.

Atiku, however, firmly rejected this request, stating, “if I tell you to take this message to them, will you? Tell him that not only that I will not support it, I will fight it.” In response, Obasanjo warned Atiku that he would not hand over power to him due to his opposition to the third-term bid.

Okonkwo also mentioned that some Nigerians oppose Atiku's presidential ambitions because he aims to improve citizens' lives, highlighting Atiku's previous administration from 1999 to 2007 as the best in terms of economic growth.