I would have gotten a third term if I wanted it – Ex-President Obasanjo boasts

I would have gotten a third term if I wanted it – Ex-President Obasanjo boasts

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has firmly denied persistent allegations that he attempted to extend his presidency beyond the constitutionally mandated two terms, calling the claims unfounded and lacking evidence.

Speaking at a democracy dialogue hosted by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Accra on Wednesday, Obasanjo dismissed the long-running speculation, stating that at no point did he make moves toward a third term in office.

“I’m not a fool. If I wanted a third term, I know how to go about it,” Obasanjo said.

“And there is no Nigerian dead or alive that would say I called him and told him I wanted a third term.”

Obasanjo, who served as Nigeria’s civilian president from 1999 to 2007, emphasized that achieving debt relief for the country was a far more complex and demanding task than seeking to remain in office beyond his constitutionally allowed tenure.

The third-term debate has lingered for years, with critics alleging that efforts were made during his administration to amend the constitution in favor of tenure elongation.

“I keep telling them that, look, if I wanted to get debt relief, which is more difficult than getting a third term and I got it, if I wanted a third term, I would have got it too,” he added.

Obasanjo also cautioned against leaders clinging to power, stressing that such behaviour reflects a false sense of indispensability.

“I know that the best is done when you are young, ideal and vibrant and dynamic. When you are ‘kuje kuje’ you don’t have the best. But some people believe that unless they are there, nobody else,” he said.

“They will even tell you that they haven’t got anybody else. I believe that that is a sin against God, because if God takes you away, which God can do anytime, then somebody else will come, and that somebody else may do better or may do worse.”