Former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has thrown an open challenge to anyone with proof that he ever sought a third term in office, urging them to make such evidence public.
Speaking on Wednesday during a democracy dialogue hosted by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Accra, Obasanjo firmly dismissed long-standing claims that he once attempted to extend his presidency beyond the constitutionally allowed two terms.
According to him, no living or deceased Nigerian can credibly claim that he ever requested support for a third term.
> “I am 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 can say I called him and told him I wanted a third term,” Obasanjo declared.
The former president highlighted his ability to secure major national milestones during his administration, particularly Nigeria’s debt relief, which he described as a more complex achievement than obtaining a constitutional amendment for a third term.
> “If I could get debt relief, which is more difficult than getting a third term, then if I wanted a third term, I would have achieved it as well,” he added.
Obasanjo also used the platform to caution against the tendency of some leaders to cling to power, stressing that overstaying in office reflects a false sense of indispensability. He described such an attitude as a “sin against God.”
> “Some leaders believe that unless they are there, nobody else can govern. But if God takes you away today, someone else will step in, and that person might perform better or worse. To assume you are irreplaceable is a sin against God,” he said.
The elder statesman further emphasized that true leadership flourishes in youth and vibrancy, warning that when leaders stay beyond their time, they risk losing effectiveness and dynamism.
