Obasanjo Denies Deceiving AD Leaders in 2003, Rebuts Osoba’s Allegations

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has rejected allegations by former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba that he deceived leaders of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) during the political negotiations preceding the 2003 general elections, describing the claims as inaccurate and a distortion of historical events.

In a letter dated July 23, 2026, titled "Reply to your inaccurate posture: 'How Obasanjo deceived us in 2003'," Obasanjo responded to Osoba's account published in The Legal Observer on July 20, saying the narrative contained what he described as inaccuracies, omissions and misconceptions.

The former president firmly rejected the suggestion that he misled Yoruba political leaders, insisting that his political engagements had always been conducted openly and in good faith.

"I take strong and serious objection to your calling me a deceiver because I deceived nobody," Obasanjo wrote.

"I always presented my case and all issues as I had them and as I understood them, no matter whose ox is gored."

Obasanjo argued that Osoba was not privy to several of the political developments that preceded his emergence as Nigeria's president in 1999, noting that many of the discussions involved senior figures within Afenifere and the Alliance for Democracy.

Reflecting on his relationship with the late Afenifere leader, Chief Abraham Adesanya, Obasanjo said they maintained mutual respect despite political differences, including Adesanya's insistence that Yoruba voters would not support his presidential ambition.

"There was no time I called on Papa Adesanya that I was not well entertained. Yet Papa stood on no vote for me, and I stood on my respect and what was due to him," he said.

According to Obasanjo, his efforts to bring together the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Alliance for Democracy after the 1999 election were motivated by a desire to build an inclusive government rather than political weakness.

"Bringing PDP and AD to join me for a sort of national government was not out of weakness; rather, it was out of strength and for the unity and progress of the country," he stated.

Responding to Osoba's account of the attempted impeachment of former Speaker of the House of Representatives Ghali Na'Abba, Obasanjo disputed the version presented by the former governor.

He maintained that the impeachment plot originated from within the National Assembly and members of his own administration rather than through any external political manipulation.

"The game continued to be played on with me treating it with contempt as I had committed no impeachable offence," he wrote.

Obasanjo also challenged Osoba's assertion that the Presidency was responsible for the defeat of Alliance for Democracy governors during the 2003 elections.

According to him, the electoral losses recorded by the party in most South-West states reflected the outcome of the polls.

"Your loss or defeat in 2003 was genuine in all the six states except the one where the figures were successfully and murderously changed," he said.

"I have never believed in tribal politics."

Despite disagreeing strongly with Osoba's account, Obasanjo acknowledged the former Ogun governor's contributions to the state and expressed appreciation for his role in facilitating the establishment of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta.

He credited Osoba with allocating the land on which the library was built, describing the institution as one of the state's most significant landmarks.

"The greatest service you rendered for me is the land allocated by you for the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library. It has become the most significant landmark in Abeokuta," Obasanjo wrote.

"Politics may end, relationships may live till life's end, there is no end to humility and thanksgiving."

The exchange follows Osoba's recent account of the political events surrounding the 2003 elections, in which the former Ogun governor accused Obasanjo of misleading Alliance for Democracy leaders during negotiations that reshaped Nigeria's political landscape in the early years of the Fourth Republic.