Obasanjo Dismisses Third Term Allegations: “No Nigerian Can Prove It”

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has firmly dismissed persistent claims that he sought a third term in office, declaring that no citizen can provide evidence to back such allegations.

Obasanjo made this statement on Wednesday during the Democracy Dialogue organized by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Accra, Ghana.

The former president emphasized his stance clearly:

“I think I’m not a fool. If I wanted it, some people believed I wanted it, I know the steps to take. But there is no Nigerian, whether living or dead, that can say I personally approached him or her to say I wanted a third term. None.”

He further explained that if he could secure Nigeria’s debt relief during his administration—an achievement he described as far more complex than extending a presidential term—then obtaining a third term would not have been impossible if he had truly pursued it.

Obasanjo noted:

“I always remind them that achieving debt relief was much tougher than extending tenure. If I had wanted a third term badly, I would have gotten it.”

On Leadership and Power Addiction

The former president also issued a strong caution to political leaders who assume they are indispensable. He described such a mindset as “a sin against God.”

According to him, effective leadership emerges from individuals who are young, vibrant, and dynamic, not from those who cling to power despite declining capacity.

He stated:

“The best leadership is delivered when you are young, idealistic, vibrant, and dynamic. Once you become tired and weak, you cannot give your best. Unfortunately, some believe nobody else can lead in their absence. They even claim there is no capable successor. But this is a sin against God because if God decides to take you away today, another person will surely step in—and that person may do better or worse, but leadership will continue.”

Obasanjo’s remarks highlight both his rejection of the third-term narrative and his call for generational renewal in leadership, reinforcing the importance of succession planning and democratic responsibility in Nigeria and across Africa.