Third-term agenda not my idea, some governors sponsored it – Obasanjo opens up
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has finally told his own side of the story regarding an alleged ambition for a third term in office, revealing that the project was never his idea.
The elder statesman addressed the age-long accusation during an interview on News Central, aired on Thursday, October 24.
He denied ever conceiving or actively pursuing such unconstitutional ambition, countering claims by his former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Senate President, Ken Nnamani.
Obasanjo stressed that he never desired an extended tenure, saying “If I had wanted a third term, I would have gotten it.
However, the former President alleged that some governors championed the third-term agenda at the time with the hope that they could extend their own terms if Obasanjo succeeded.
“I know some governors working for this, believing that if I, as president, got a third, they would also get it,” he remarked.
Obasanjo says his government prioritised debt relief
He also spoke about some of the successes achieved by his administration, noting that he focused on securing debt relief for Nigeria, a diplomatic feat involving the United Kingdom, Japan, France, and the United States.
He explained that the debt relief effort was far more challenging than pursuing a third term, emphasising his priorities while in office.
Recall that Atiku and Nnamani have repeatedly spoken about their efforts to block Obasanjo’s purported third-term ambition.
The former Vice President claimed that his connections in the National Assembly were critical in thwarting the plan.
Similarly, Nnamani has also narrated how he had to sacrifice his senatorial ambition to ensure the third-term agenda failed, alleging that some other lawmakers were offered cash rewards to support the move.
