Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has rejected claims by former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba that he deceived leaders of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) ahead of the 2003 general elections.
In a letter dated July 23, 2026, Obasanjo described Osoba’s account, published in The Legal Observer, as inaccurate and misleading, insisting he acted in good faith throughout the political realignments of the period.
“I deceived nobody,” Obasanjo wrote, adding that his decisions were guided by openness and national interest.
He explained that many of the political consultations leading to his emergence in 1999 were handled by senior leaders of Afenifere and the AD and may not have been fully known to Osoba. According to him, nationwide support after his release from prison influenced his decision to contest under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Obasanjo also defended his attempt to form a broad-based government with the AD after winning the presidency, saying it was aimed at national unity, not political weakness.
In the 2003 elections, he dismissed claims of manipulation, stating that the defeat of AD governors reflected the political realities at the time, with only one state experiencing irregularities.
He further disputed Osoba’s account of the attempted impeachment of former House Speaker Ghali Na’Abba, alleging the plot originated within his administration and was linked to internal political ambitions.
While rejecting ethnic politics, Obasanjo stressed that Nigeria’s presidency should not be viewed through a tribal lens.
Despite the disagreement, he acknowledged Osoba’s contributions to Ogun State and praised his role in allocating land for the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta.
Obasanjo concluded by urging the former governor to prioritize humility and preserve personal relationships beyond politics.
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