Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has claimed that he helped save former President Olusegun Obasanjo from an alleged plan to administer a potentially fatal injection while Obasanjo was imprisoned under the military regime of the late General Sani Abacha.

Atiku made the claim while responding to renewed criticism surrounding his long political relationship with Obasanjo.

He said information reached him about an alleged plan to give Obasanjo an injection while he was in prison, prompting him to send a warning that the former military ruler should not accept it.

Atiku links claim to Yar’Adua’s death

Atiku said his warning was influenced by what he described as a similar incident involving the late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua.

Yar’Adua died in military custody in December 1997 after being imprisoned during the Abacha regime.

Atiku claimed he had information that a similar method could be used against Obasanjo and decided to intervene.

“I saved Obasanjo’s life in prison by leaking information about an impending injection that could have killed him,” Atiku said.

He added that he warned Obasanjo not to allow the injection after receiving information about the alleged plan.

The claim is not being presented as an established finding that a plot to kill Obasanjo through an injection existed. It is Atiku’s account of events.

Obasanjo was imprisoned under Abacha

Obasanjo was arrested and imprisoned by the Abacha military government in 1995 after being convicted of involvement in an alleged coup plot.

He remained in prison until June 1998, following Abacha’s death and the beginning of a transition towards civilian rule.

Obasanjo later became Nigeria’s president in 1999, with Atiku serving as his vice president.

Atiku has now recalled his relationship with Obasanjo as part of a wider response to criticism from the former president.

Relationship later turned bitter

The relationship between the two men eventually deteriorated, particularly over Obasanjo’s controversial attempt to extend his presidency beyond the constitutionally allowed two terms.

Atiku opposed the third-term agenda, which sought constitutional changes that would have allowed Obasanjo to remain in office beyond 2007.

The proposal eventually failed after strong opposition in the National Assembly.

Atiku has repeatedly described his opposition to the plan as a defence of Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.

Atiku recalls supporting Obasanjo

Atiku also claimed that he supported Obasanjo and his family during his imprisonment and later assisted him after his release.

He said Obasanjo had little personal property when he regained his freedom and that he helped provide clothing, support and political assistance.

Atiku further claimed that he helped mobilise political structures and alliances that contributed to Obasanjo emerging as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party ahead of the 1999 election.

The former vice president said he did not regret supporting Obasanjo despite their subsequent political disagreement.

Fresh attention on old political history

Atiku’s latest claim has reopened discussion about the relationship between two of Nigeria’s most prominent political figures.

Both men played major roles in Nigeria’s transition from military rule to democratic government and later served together at the highest level of the federal government.

Their relationship eventually became one of the most closely watched political rivalries in the country.

Atiku’s account of the alleged prison injection adds another chapter to that complicated history, although the specific allegation remains his account and would require independent documentary evidence to establish as fact.

The renewed exchange also comes as Nigerian politicians position themselves ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with old alliances, disagreements and political histories increasingly becoming part of the national debate.