Bugaje To Obasanjo: You Pursued Third Term, Stop Lying

Bugaje To Obasanjo: You Pursued Third Term, Stop Lying

Political activist and former federal lawmaker Dr. Usman Bugaje has challenged former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s denial of attempting to secure a third term in office, insisting that Obasanjo “did everything within his power” to prolong his presidency.

Obasanjo dismissed the longstanding controversy during a democracy dialogue organized by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Ghana last week, stating, “I’m not a fool. If I wanted a third term, I know how to go about it. And no Nigerian, dead or alive, can say I ever called them to express such a wish.”

However, speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Monday, Bugaje, who served in the National Assembly during Obasanjo’s presidency, maintained that lawmakers at the time had firsthand knowledge of the third-term efforts.

“I can confirm that Obasanjo sought a third term and did everything within his power to achieve it, but he ultimately failed,” Bugaje said.

He described Obasanjo’s denial as unconvincing, adding that many lawmakers faced threats from Obasanjo’s agents during the campaign.

“The fact that he didn’t personally make phone calls is not proof that he didn’t pursue a third term. It’s merely a matter of style. Everyone in the National Assembly then knew without doubt that he worked tirelessly, and many of us were threatened by his operatives,” Bugaje explained.

Bugaje recounted instances of intimidation against legislators, highlighting the experience of Senator Victor Lar, then leader of the Northern caucus in the House of Representatives, who reportedly went into hiding ahead of a crucial meeting opposing the third-term bid.

“Those who distributed the bribes and threats are still alive. Those who received or rejected the money are still alive. There is ample evidence. This is undeniable and cannot be refuted,” Bugaje stressed.

The “third term agenda” dominated Nigerian politics in 2006 when a proposed amendment to the 1999 Constitution sought to allow presidents to serve three consecutive terms. The proposal was widely believed to be backed by Obasanjo’s allies as he was nearing the end of his second term.

After intense debate and opposition from civil society, opposition parties, and even members within the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, the amendment was rejected by the National Assembly.

The amendment’s failure ended speculation about Obasanjo’s third term, paving the way for the 2007 elections that brought late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to power.

Obasanjo, in his 2023 New Year message, again denied lobbying for a third term, stating he was “audacious enough” to have pursued it had he wished.

Meanwhile, former Senate President Adolphus Wabara claimed he refused a N250 million bribe offered to support the third-term agenda during Obasanjo’s administration. In a January 2024 YouTube interview series, Untold Stories with Adesuwa, Wabara confirmed the claim as “very correct.”

Former Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar also revealed that his close ties with National Assembly members during his vice presidency helped thwart Obasanjo’s third-term bid. Atiku added that he planned to rebuild relations with lawmakers following his election as president, alongside their own successful campaigns.

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