The Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum has accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of allegedly working behind the scenes to weaken Nigeria’s opposition parties in support of President Bola Tinubu’s reported bid for a second term in the 2027 general election.
In a statement released on Sunday, the group’s President, Akin Malaolu, said Obasanjo’s recent remarks against former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, were aimed at destabilising the opposition coalition rather than merely criticising Atiku.
The forum was reacting to Obasanjo’s recent letter to former Ogun State Governor, Segun Osoba, in which the former president alleged that Atiku persuaded the late former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba, to initiate impeachment proceedings against him during his presidency.
Atiku had previously dismissed the allegation, insisting Obasanjo remained resentful because he opposed the former president’s unsuccessful attempt to secure a third term in office.
Responding to the controversy, the Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum argued that Obasanjo deliberately mentioned the late Na’Abba because he was no longer alive to respond to the allegation.
The group stated that invoking Na’Abba’s name was unfair, noting that the late former Speaker could no longer defend himself against the claims.
According to the forum, Obasanjo’s latest intervention should be viewed within the context of the political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 elections, maintaining that his actions were intended to weaken opposition parties.
Malaolu argued that many people believed the former president’s comments were directed solely at Atiku, but insisted they were actually targeted at the wider opposition movement.
He further alleged that Obasanjo’s actions reinforced claims that he was working in the interest of his kinsman, President Tinubu, to support the president’s re-election ambition.
The group also described Obasanjo’s perceived support for Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as a diversion intended to conceal his alleged backing of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The statement claimed that before the ADC was adopted by opposition leaders, coalition members consulted Obasanjo, but alleged that his primary interest was ensuring Obi emerged as the party’s presidential candidate.
It further alleged that Obasanjo privately informed some South-West leaders that he would withdraw his public support for Obi if the former Anambra State governor agreed to serve as the ADC vice-presidential candidate.
The forum also claimed that after failing to secure Obi’s emergence as the coalition’s presidential flag bearer, Obasanjo allegedly encouraged defections to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), using Kwankwaso as an incentive to persuade Obi to leave the ADC coalition.
Additionally, the group alleged that the former president was quietly working with a member of President Tinubu’s family to advance the president’s 2027 re-election campaign. However, it did not identify the individual or provide evidence to substantiate the claim.
The statement concluded by accusing Obasanjo of abandoning the pan-Nigerian political ideals he once promoted in favour of supporting what it described as Tinubu’s struggling political project.