I Never Pushed For 3rd Term in Office - Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has dismissed claims that he ever sought a third term while in office, insisting no Nigerian can truthfully say he lobbied for tenure elongation.

Obasanjo spoke at the Democracy Dialogue organised by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Accra, Ghana, where he maintained that he never pursued such an agenda.

“I’m not a fool. If I wanted a third term, I know how to go about it. And there is no Nigerian, dead or alive, that would say I called him and told him I wanted a third term,” Obasanjo said.

The former leader argued that securing debt relief for Nigeria was far more difficult than seeking a third term, stressing that if he had truly desired it, he would have achieved it.

“I keep telling them that if I could get debt relief, which was more difficult than getting a third term, then if I wanted a third term, I would have got it too,” he said.

Obasanjo also cautioned African leaders against overstaying in power, warning that the belief in one’s indispensability is a “sin against God.”

Former President Goodluck Jonathan, who also spoke at the dialogue, stressed the need to strengthen democratic institutions, describing electoral manipulation as a major threat to democracy in Africa.

His words: “Democracy in the African continent is going through a period of strain and risk of collapse unless stakeholders come together to rethink and reform it. Electoral manipulation remains one of the biggest threats in Africa.

“We in Africa must begin to look at our democracy and rethink it in a way that works well for us and our people. One of the problems is our electoral system. People manipulate the process to remain in power by all means.

“If we had proper elections, a leader who fails to perform would be voted out. But in our case, people use the system to perpetuate themselves even when the people don’t want them.

“Our people want to enjoy their freedoms. They want their votes to count during elections. They want equitable representation and inclusivity. They want good education. Our people want security.

“They want access to good healthcare. They want jobs. They want dignity. When leaders fail to meet these basic needs, the people become disillusioned.”

Other dignitaries at the dialogue included Omar Touray, president of the ECOWAS Commission, and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of Sokoto Diocese.

Speakers at the event stressed that democracy in Africa must go beyond elections to embrace accountability, service, and discipline.