These questions are necessitated by the latest press release from former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, who is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2027 presidential election. It was in reaction to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, alleging that “Atiku invited (then Speaker of the House of Reps, Ghali) Na’Abba; he gave him N5 million to begin his impeachment work.“

It would be recalled that Obasanjo never hid his enthusiastic support for Obi’s presidential ambition in the last election cycle. The height of it was during a public event in October 2022 where the former president played out what was believed to be a symbolic gesture.

This was as he grabbed Obi by the hand, moved the then Labour Party presidential candidate to his seat at the occasion, before exiting the venue, declaring that his job is done.

Against this backcloth, many political watchers would be jolted by Atiku’s claim that “Coming at a time when the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general election is taking shape, the obvious objective is to besmirch my person and reputation and confer an undeserved political advantage on the former President’s kinsman.”

Atiku did not mention the particular kinsman he was referring to but pointed out that it is difficult to ignore the political timing of the recycled allegations. President Bola Tinubu is a Yoruba like Obasanjo, and is a top contender for next year’s presidential election under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Peter Obi is Igbo from the South-East.

Obasanjo had on Thursday alleged that Atiku gave the late Ghali Umar Na’Abba, former speaker of the House of Representatives, N5 million to begin impeachment proceedings against him during his first term in office.

Atiku fired back by saying, “Nigerians, however, know better. They are too discerning to be distracted by stale allegations resurrected for political convenience. If former President Obasanjo has chosen to take a political position ahead of 2027, he should simply declare it and allow Nigerians to judge it on its merits, rather than attempting to influence public opinion…”

If this is true, what could have made Obi fall from the  good graces of Obasanjo who is now trying to “sway public opinion” to boost the electoral chances of his supposed kinsman?