Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has launched a scathing attack on former President Olusegun Obasanjo, accusing him of turning former Vice President Atiku Abubakar into a convenient political punching bag whenever Nigeria approaches another election cycle.
Frank alleged that Obasanjo had made a habit of resurrecting allegations against Atiku every four years while refusing to accept responsibility for the successes and failures of the administration they jointly served between 1999 and 2007.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the former APC spokesman described the ex-President’s recurring criticisms of Atiku as an “outdated political script” that no longer resonates with Nigerians, insisting that Obasanjo should stop portraying his former deputy as the face of his administration’s shortcomings.
He argued that, as President, Obasanjo wielded the constitutional authority over the affairs of government and could not now attempt to distance himself from decisions taken during his tenure.
Frank maintained that Atiku played a pivotal role in assembling the technocrats and professionals who drove many of the economic reforms and policy initiatives credited to the administration, adding that the former President should equally acknowledge his former deputy’s contributions instead of repeatedly attacking him.
He challenged Obasanjo to account for controversial events that occurred under his watch, including the military operations in Odi, Bayelsa State, and Zaki Biam, Benue State, rather than shifting public attention to Atiku.
According to Frank, Obasanjo’s periodic interventions have become predictable political rituals designed to discredit the former vice president whenever another presidential election approaches.
“It has become a recurring cycle. Every election season, Nigerians are treated to the same allegations against Atiku while the former President avoids taking responsibility for his own stewardship,” he said.
Frank stressed that Obasanjo was constitutionally entitled to support any presidential aspirant of his choice ahead of the 2027 election but urged him to campaign openly for such a candidate instead of, in his words, engaging in repeated attacks on Atiku.
He also rejected attempts to portray the former vice president as the major obstacle to Nigeria’s development, arguing that Atiku had been subjected to several investigations over the years without any of the allegations against him being conclusively established.
The former APC spokesman further challenged Obasanjo to direct similar criticism at the current administration, insisting that the country’s pressing economic and security challenges deserved greater attention than what he described as incessant attacks on Atiku.
Frank equally dismissed claims of Obasanjo’s enduring political influence, contending that candidates publicly endorsed by the former President had often failed at the polls.
He commended Atiku for maintaining silence in the face of repeated criticisms, describing the former vice president’s restraint as a demonstration of political maturity and statesmanship.
He urged Obasanjo to emulate other former Nigerian leaders by conducting himself as an elder statesman and allowing Nigerians to determine the country’s political future without persistent personal attacks.
“The decision on who becomes Nigeria’s next President rests with the people. If it is God’s will for Atiku to lead this country, no amount of political blackmail or personal attacks can prevent it,” Frank said.
Olusegun Obasanjo
