Obasanjo Finally Opens Up on Third Term Ambition, Names Alleged Sponsors

• Olusegun Obasanjo, former president of Nigeria, has clarified that he did not nurse third term ambition while in office as claimed
• Obasanjo claimed some governors were the ones behind the ambition so that they could also remain in office for another term
• His comment followed claims by Atiku Abubakar and Ken Nnamani that they were instrumental to the non-realisation of the ambition

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has finally refuted claims that he pursued a third-term agenda during his time in office, noting that he would have secured it if he had truly pushed for it.

Obasanjo, in an interview with News Central, said getting debt relief for the country was much more difficult than getting a third term. He bragged that his government was able to get debt relief for Nigeria when he was in office.

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The former president noted that getting a third term would not have involved him going to France, England, Japan, America and others to beg for debt relief for Nigeria.

He said:

"If I had wanted a third term, I would have gotten it. I didn't want a third term. I know some governors working for this, believing that if I, as president, got a third, they would also get it.

Atiku speaks on Obasanjo's third-term ambition

Recall that ahead of the 2023 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar bragged that his relationship with members of the national assembly made it possible for him to stop Obasanjo's third-term agenda then.

Obasanjo and Atiku were Nigeria's president and vice president between 1999 and 2007, but their relationship became sour when the former declined to support the latter as his successor.

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Nnamani speaks on stopping Obasanjo's third-term agenda

Like Atiku, Ken Nnamani, the Senate president during the fifth national assembly, once claimed that he was instrumental in stopping Obasanjo's third-term presidential ambition.

He claimed he had to sacrifice his senatorial ambition to stop the former president.

The former Senate President further alleged that lawmakers were given promises and cash incentives, but he ensured the third-term plan failed— a decision that later cost him his 2007 re-election.

Obasanjo speaks on Nigeria and integrity

Legit.ng earlier reported that Obasanjo called on Nigerians to put aside their regional alliances to make the country great.

The former president expressed optimism that Nigeria could get things right if it focuses on building integrity, truth and love.

Proofreading by James, Ojo Adakole, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng