{
  "id": 418114,
  "title": "Atiku accuses Obasanjo of 20-year campaign of lies, deceit",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/atiku-accuses-obasanjo-of-20-year-campaign-of-lies-deceit",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-09T23:40:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/atiku-accuses-obasanjo-of-20-year-campaign-of-lies-deceit/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of launching a campaign of \"lies, political manipulation, and deceit\" against him for over two decades. Atiku's Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, stated this response to a recent claim by Obasanjo that Atiku had mobilized the late Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Na'Abba, to remove Obasanjo from office during their tenure between 1999 and 2007. Ibe claimed that Obasanjo's recent allegations were \"collapsing like a pack of cards\" and that Na'Abba, who passed away three years ago, could not respond. The Atiku camp also disputed claims that Na'Abba sought Obasanjo's removal, with former House of Representatives member Abubakar Bwari stating that Na'Abba never made such a request. Additionally, Ibe cited a video in which former PDP governor Orji Uzor Kalu claimed that Atiku had knelt before PDP governors to seek their support for Obasanjo's re-election in the 2003 presidential election, contradicting Obasanjo's claims of being forced to kneel. The Atiku team also revisited the controversial investigation into the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) shortly before the 2007 presidential election, challenging the narrative that the allegations were politically motivated and connected to Atiku's opposition to Obasanjo's bid for a third term.",
  "summary": "Atiku Abubakar accuses Olusegun Obasanjo of a 20-year campaign of lies and deceit, challenging recent allegations. Discover the full story of their politic Read More: https://punchng.com/atiku-accuses-obasanjo-of-20-year-campaign-of-lies-deceit/",
  "key_points": [
    "Atiku accuses Obasanjo of 20-year campaign of lies, political manipulation, deceit.",
    "Obasanjo claimed Atiku mobilized Ghali Na Abba to remove him from office, which Atiku denies.",
    "Atiku's camp disputes Na Abba's alleged request for Obasanjo's removal and Kalu's kneeling claim."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "Atiku accuses Obasanjo of 20-year campaign of lies, deceit",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/atiku-accuses-obasanjo-of-20-year-campaign-of-lies-deceit-419260",
        "published": "2026-08-09T23:56:34.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}