FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo has firmly refuted claims that he ever sought to extend his presidency beyond the constitutionally allowed two terms, declaring that no one can credibly claim he solicited support for a third term agenda.
Speaking at the Democracy Dialogue organized by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Accra, Ghana, on Sunday, September 21, 2025, Obasanjo dismissed long-standing allegations about his intentions during his presidency (1999–2007).
“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 stated emphatically.
The former president, known for his forthright demeanour, pointed to his administration’s success in securing debt relief for Nigeria as evidence of his ability to achieve complex national objectives.
“I keep telling them that if I could get debt relief, which was more difficult than getting a third term, then if I wanted a third term, I would have got it too,” Obasanjo said, underscoring his confidence in his political acumen.
Obasanjo also used the platform to caution leaders against clinging to power, describing the belief in one’s indispensability as a “sin against God.” His remarks come amid ongoing discussions about democratic governance and leadership transitions in Africa.
The Democracy Dialogue, hosted by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, brought together policymakers, scholars, and civil society leaders to discuss strengthening democratic institutions across the continent.