Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has rejected allegations by former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, that he deceived leaders of the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD) during the political negotiations that preceded the 2003 general elections, insisting that his actions were guided by transparency and national interest.
Responding in a letter dated July 23, 2026, titled Reply to your inaccurate posture: “How Obasanjo deceived us in 2003”, the former President described Osoba’s account, published in The Legal Observer on July 20, as inaccurate, incomplete and based on misconceptions.
Obasanjo took particular exception to being described as deceptive, maintaining that he had always presented political issues as he understood them, regardless of whose interests were affected.
“I take strong and serious objection to your calling me a deceiver because I deceived nobody. I always presented my case and all issues as I had them and as I understood them, no matter whose ox is gored,” he said.
The former President argued that many of the political discussions preceding his emergence as President in 1999 were conducted by senior Afenifere and AD leaders and were therefore outside Osoba’s direct knowledge.
He recalled his relationship with the late Afenifere leader, Chief Abraham Adesanya, noting that despite Adesanya’s opposition to his presidential ambition, they maintained mutual respect throughout the period.
Obasanjo also defended his decision to seek cooperation between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the AD after assuming office, saying the move was intended to promote national unity rather than strengthen his political position.
“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.
Addressing claims surrounding the attempted impeachment of former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Na’Abba, Obasanjo disputed Osoba’s account, insisting the impeachment moves originated from within his administration and not from any wrongdoing on his part.
“The game continued to be played on with me treating it with contempt as I had committed no impeachable offence,” he said.
The former President also challenged Osoba’s account of the 2003 elections, dismissing suggestions that the Presidency manipulated the outcome against AD governors.
According to him, the election results reflected the electorate’s choices in virtually all the South-West states.
“Your loss or defeat in 2003 was genuine in all the six states except the one where the figures were successfully and murderously changed. I have never believed in tribal politics,” Obasanjo said.
Despite the sharp disagreement over historical events, Obasanjo acknowledged Osoba’s contributions to Ogun State and expressed appreciation for his role in allocating the land on which the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library was built in Abeokuta.
He described the library as one of the city’s most prominent landmarks, noting that political differences should not diminish recognition of meaningful contributions or long-standing personal relationships.
