Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has described his decision to choose former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as his running mate in the 1999 presidential election as the biggest mistake of his political career.
Obasanjo made the revelation on Friday in Lagos while speaking during a fireside chat with entertainer Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, at the unveiling of the Charly Boy Foundation and the launch of his memoir, 999: A Memoir in Tribute to Late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa.
The former president and Atiku were elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 1999 and served together as President and Vice President until 2007.
Reflecting on his years in office, Obasanjo said that with the benefit of hindsight, he would not have selected Atiku as his running mate.
“I would say the greatest mistake I made was picking Atiku Abubakar as my vice president in 1999,” Obasanjo said.
Despite the public fallout between both leaders after leaving office, Obasanjo said he holds no bitterness towards his former deputy.
According to him, the challenges that emerged from their relationship did not prevent his administration from achieving its objectives.
“There is no bitterness in me over what happened. Despite everything, I was able to achieve what I set out to achieve while in power,” he added.
Obasanjo also addressed speculation surrounding his ancestry, insisting that his parents were from Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
“I still know our family house there,” he said.
The event attracted several prominent personalities, including former Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku, National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi, Zinox Group Chairman Leo Stan Ekeh, book reviewer Dr. Austin Tam-George, veteran broadcaster Bisi Olatilo, and other distinguished guests.
In support of the newly launched Charly Boy Foundation, Leo Stan Ekeh announced a donation of ₦20 million each on behalf of Obasanjo and Anyaoku.