Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has unleashed a scathing response to former Ogun State Governor, Olusegun Osoba, vehemently rejecting accusations that he deceived Southwest governors under the Alliance for Democracy (AD) platform ahead of the 2003 general elections.
In a strongly worded letter dated July 23, 2026, Obasanjo dismissed Osoba’s claims regarding the political dynamics of that era, stating that many critical events were completely “above your head” and mishandled by regional leaders who chose confrontation over strategic collaboration.
Rejection of Deception Claims
Obasanjo took intense exception to being labeled a deceiver, maintaining that his political dealings were transparent and rooted in national integration rather than tribal insularism. According to the former president, the AD and Afenifere leadership alienated themselves by operating within a “tribal cul-de-sac” and cutting off meaningful communication with the federal center.
Recalling his numerous outreach efforts prior to his election, Obasanjo detailed how he consistently engaged with Yoruba elders, including visits to the late Chief Abraham Adesanya, who maintained an uncompromising stance against a non-AD presidency.
The 2003 Political Realignment and Allegations of Betrayal
Addressing the downfall of the AD governors in 2003, Obasanjo attributed their electoral defeat to a combination of political miscalculation, failure to campaign vigorously, and a secret pact struck with his then-vice president. He alleged that the Southwest governors fell for an anti-democratic strategy designed to sideline him in favor of a succession plan engineered from within the presidency.
”You were all convinced of this anti-democratic plan and you all fell for it,” Obasanjo wrote, adding that the election results in most states were genuine reflections of the electorate’s will, save for isolated anomalies.
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Acknowledging Personal History and Legacy
Despite the intense political posturing, the former president briefly pivoted to areas of personal rapport and state development. He acknowledged Osoba’s role during his tenure, including the allocation of land for the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, which he described as a monumental landmark for the state.
Obasanjo concluded by urging the former governor to embrace humility and reflect maturely on the historical lessons of Nigeria’s complex political evolution, emphasizing that genuine leadership requires looking beyond narrow partisan and regional confines.