Political activist and former federal lawmaker, Dr. Usman Bugaje, has faulted former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s recent denial of seeking a third term in office, insisting that the former leader “did everything within his power” to extend his stay.
Obasanjo, speaking at a democracy dialogue organised by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Ghana last week, dismissed the long-standing controversy. “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,” he said.
However, appearing on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Monday, Bugaje, who served in the National Assembly during Obasanjo’s tenure, countered the claim. He maintained that lawmakers at the time were directly aware of the third-term plot.
“I can confirm to you that Obasanjo looked for a third term. He did everything that he could within his power to get it, but he failed,” Bugaje said.
The former lawmaker accused Obasanjo’s agents of intimidation, alleging that many legislators were threatened. He cited the case of Senator Victor Lar, then leader of the Northern caucus in the House of Representatives, who, according to him, was forced into hiding before a crucial meeting to resist the plan.
“Those who distributed the money and threatened us are alive. Those who received the money are alive. Those who refused are alive. There is sufficient evidence. This is incontrovertible,” he stressed.
The controversy over a “third term agenda” dominated Nigeria’s politics in 2006 when the National Assembly debated an amendment to the 1999 Constitution that would have allowed presidents to serve three consecutive terms.
The amendment, widely believed to be sponsored by allies of Obasanjo, was rejected after a heated debate, despite including other proposed constitutional changes. The rejection ended speculation about Obasanjo seeking another term and cleared the way for the 2007 election, which produced the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua as president.
In the years since, the matter has remained a point of contention. Obasanjo, in a 2023 New Year message, reiterated that he never lobbied for a third term, insisting he could have secured it if he wanted.
But other political figures have backed Bugaje’s position. Former Senate President Adolphus Wabara claimed he turned down a ₦250 million bribe to support the amendment, while ex-vice president Atiku Abubakar has said his close ties with lawmakers helped block the alleged agenda.
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