Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has again rejected long-standing claims that he sought a third term in office during his presidency.
Speaking at a virtual dialogue hosted by the Africa Leadership Group, Obasanjo insisted that if he had truly wanted to remain in power beyond the constitutional two terms, nothing would have stopped him.
“I never asked for a third term. If I wanted a third term, I would have got it. I am audacious enough to know how to get it,” the former president declared during the event themed “Leadership and Nation-Building.”
He argued that the narrative of a third-term agenda was largely the creation of political actors at the time, particularly governors who hoped to extend their own tenure if he had succeeded.
Obasanjo highlighted his administration’s record, particularly securing debt relief from France, the UK, Japan, and the United States, stressing that such achievements required far more political and diplomatic dexterity than altering presidential term limits.
“No Nigerian, living or dead, has evidence that I ever discussed or initiated a third-term plan,” he maintained.
Beyond defending his record, Obasanjo called for constitutional amendments to strengthen governance, including devolving more powers from the federal government to the states.
The remarks have rekindled debate over the controversy that erupted in 2006, when public outcry followed perceived attempts by some political forces to extend Obasanjo’s tenure through constitutional amendment.
