Paul Ibe, media aide to Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has accused the Presidency of selectively quoting former President Olusegun Obasanjo to discredit his principal.
Ibe made the accusation in a statement posted on his social media handles on Sunday in response to Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy.
Onanuga had shared a video of Obasanjo criticising Atiku’s judgment and understanding of the responsibilities of the presidency, describing the former president’s remarks as another negative assessment of the ADC candidate’s suitability for the position.
In the video, Obasanjo was quoted as saying Atiku complained too much and failed to understand what it takes to be president.
“Atiku Abubakar does not have right sense of judgment, and on a number of occasions, I pointed this out to him. He complained too much and wasn’t able to understand or learn what it takes to be a president… so I gave up,” Obasanjo said.
However, Ibe argued that the Presidency had ignored Obasanjo’s subsequent endorsement of Atiku ahead of the 2019 presidential election.
He recalled that on October 11, 2018, Obasanjo endorsed Atiku, saying the former vice president understood the economy better.
Ibe said Obasanjo had also acknowledged Atiku’s business experience, national and international connections, and capacity to perform better than the then-incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari.
The media aide questioned why the Presidency would highlight Obasanjo’s criticism of Atiku while leaving out his endorsement of the same candidate.
“If Obasanjo’s judgment is your evidence against Atiku, why conveniently omit his unequivocal endorsement of the same Atiku in 2018?” Ibe asked.
He added that political disagreements, reconciliations and alliances were normal features of democratic politics, arguing that references to past criticisms should also account for subsequent developments.
Ibe also defended Atiku’s choice of Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate, saying Amaechi’s earlier criticism of the former vice president occurred when both men were competing for the ADC presidential ticket in May 2026.
According to Ibe, Amaechi emerged as Atiku’s running mate on June 15 and has since publicly defended their joint policy proposals.
He further referred to Amaechi’s remarks at the inauguration of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council on Friday, saying the former minister made it clear that the primaries were over and the party should concentrate on the task ahead.
Ibe maintained that citing political disagreements without acknowledging subsequent endorsements and reconciliations amounted to an incomplete representation of events.
“Political disagreements, reconciliations and alliances are part of democratic politics. But selectively quoting past criticisms while deliberately ignoring subsequent endorsements, reconciliations and political developments is not an honest account of history. It is disingenuous,” he said.
He further accused the Presidency of applying a double standard in its use of Obasanjo’s statements about Atiku.
“You cannot invoke Obasanjo as an authority when he criticises Atiku and suddenly develop selective amnesia when he endorses him,” Ibe added.
The exchange comes amid growing political exchanges between the Tinubu administration and the ADC presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general election.
COURTESY: PoliticsNigeria
