Timi Frank to Obasanjo:"Your Blackmail Tactics Against Atiku Have Grown Stale"

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of making former Vice President Atiku Abubakar a recurring target whenever election seasons approach.

Frank was reacting to Obasanjo’s latest remarks about the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate. Speaking at the unveiling of the foundation established by Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, Obasanjo described his decision to choose Atiku as his running mate as the biggest mistake of his presidency.

In a strongly worded statement, Frank dismissed the comments as part of what he called an “outdated blackmail pattern” that Nigerians had grown tired of.

According to him, Obasanjo has consistently attempted to shift responsibility for the shortcomings of their administration onto Atiku, despite serving as the president with ultimate constitutional authority.

Frank maintained that Atiku played a pivotal role in assembling the team of technocrats and professionals credited with many of the achievements recorded during the Obasanjo administration. He urged the former president to accept responsibility for both the successes and failures of the government instead of portraying his former deputy as the source of its problems.

He also referenced the military operations in Odi, Bayelsa State, and Zaki Biam, Benue State, arguing that the decisions were taken under Obasanjo’s leadership.

“If it is true that Atiku committed all of these things you have constantly accused him of, then we can conclude that you were a full accomplice as you presided as President, because all the approving powers rested solely within your purview,” Frank said.

He further accused Obasanjo of reviving allegations against Atiku whenever the country enters an election cycle, describing the pattern as predictable.

“It has become a recurring script where you remember Atiku every four years simply to smear and gaslight your former vice president whenever elections are near,” he said.

Frank insisted that Nigerians were no longer interested in what he described as Obasanjo’s “stale and outdated” rhetoric, urging the former president to offer constructive ideas rather than recycle old allegations.

He also accused Obasanjo of positioning himself as a political spoiler whenever the country appears headed for a change in leadership.

“It is your constitutional right not to support Alhaji Atiku, but resorting to the same blackmail tactics will not secure victory for your preferred candidate,” Frank stated.

He urged Obasanjo to openly support any candidate of his choice ahead of the 2027 presidential election instead of focusing his attacks on Atiku.

“Sell your candidate if you have one and stop allowing yourself to be used. Do not let your fixation with Atiku become an obsession that eventually consumes you,” he said.

Frank also rejected attempts to portray Atiku as Nigeria’s major problem, arguing that the former vice president had been subjected to numerous investigations over the years without the allegations against him being substantiated.

Turning his criticism directly at Obasanjo, Frank questioned why the former president appeared more focused on attacking Atiku than holding the current administration accountable.

“Atiku is not Nigeria’s problem today. We challenge you to criticize the current government with the same energy you devote to attacking Atiku,” he said.

Frank further argued that Obasanjo was aware of Atiku’s qualifications and leadership capacity but had continued to undermine him through public criticism.

According to him, Obasanjo’s political endorsements have rarely translated into electoral victories, suggesting that the former president’s influence had been overstated.

“Your political value is overrated because candidates you openly support have often failed at the polls, including in your home state of Ogun,” he said.

He warned Obasanjo against turning his long-running political disagreement with Atiku into a recurring public spectacle.

Frank commended Atiku for maintaining his silence despite repeated criticism, describing the approach as a demonstration of maturity. He added that the former vice president could choose to reveal damaging information about Obasanjo but had deliberately refrained from doing so.

He urged Obasanjo to conduct himself as an elder statesman and emulate the restraint displayed by former military leaders Ibrahim Babangida, Abdulsalami Abubakar and Yakubu Gowon.

Frank concluded by saying that Nigerians alone would determine who becomes president, not any political godfather.

“If it is destined for Atiku to become President, neither you nor anyone else can stop it,” he said.

He added, “Hopefully, by God’s grace, you will witness Atiku becoming President before you leave this earth.”