Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly refuted allegations by former President Olusegun Obasanjo that he bribed the late former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba, to orchestrate an impeachment plot.
In a statement titled “The Grave Is Not a Witness Box,” issued on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described the claim as an attempt to distort historical events and sway political opinion ahead of the 2027 general election.
Atiku criticised the timing of the allegation, noting that it was made after the death of Na’Abba, who he said would have been in the best position to confirm or deny the claim.
“As Africans, we recognise the moral obligation to speak truthfully about the dead. It is therefore troubling that such a weighty allegation is being made at a time when the person most central to it is no longer alive to respond,” the statement read.
He questioned why the accusation was not raised while the former Speaker was still alive, arguing that bringing it up now deprives Nigerians of the opportunity to hear both sides of the story.
According to Atiku, invoking the name of the late lawmaker in present-day political disputes is both unfair and culturally inappropriate, as it prevents him from defending his integrity.
“The late Rt. Hon. Ghali Na’Abba cannot respond to these claims or defend his reputation. It is unjust to involve the dead in ongoing political battles when they no longer have a voice,” he said.
The former vice president further alleged that the claim was politically motivated and aimed at undermining his reputation as political alignments begin to take shape ahead of the 2027 elections.
He suggested that the allegation may be intended to favour a candidate aligned with Obasanjo, urging the former president to be transparent about his political stance rather than making claims that cannot be independently verified.
“If former President Obasanjo has a preferred candidate for 2027, he should state it clearly and allow Nigerians to assess that choice on its merits, instead of attempting to influence public perception through unverified allegations,” Atiku stated.
The exchange marks another chapter in the long-standing political rivalry between the two leaders, whose relationship has been marked by periods of cooperation and conflict since their time in office.