NGFormer Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo reflected on his 1999 presidential campaign during a conversation with activist Charles 'Charly Boy' Oputa, where he expressed regret over choosing his running mate, whom he later came to view negatively. Though he did not explicitly name Atiku Abubakar, the reference to 'my running mate' and 'my vice president' clearly pointed to Atiku, who served as his vice president from 1999 to 2007. The discussion occurred during the launch of the Charly Boy Foundation and the release of Oputa's memoir. Obasanjo acknowledged past mistakes but emphasized that divine intervention prevented greater damage to his administration. He stated he would not have selected his running mate if he had known him better, though he denied harboring bitterness toward Atiku, attributing their eventual falling out to differing political paths. Their relationship, marked by public disputes, remains a significant point of contention in Nigerian political history.
Bias read (Center): The article presents Obasanjo's personal reflection on a historical political decision without overtly endorsing or criticizing either side. It reports on his regret without taking a clear ideological stance, balancing his acknowledgment of past errors with his lack of bitterness. The framing is non
