Abia North Senator, Orji Uzor Kalu, has raised fresh allegations about the failed third-term ambition of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, insisting the former Nigerian leader wanted to extend his tenure in office beyond the constitutionally allowed two terms.
Speaking on Wednesday as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Kalu insisted that Obasanjo called him personally into the Aso Rock Villa and informed him that he wanted a third term.
The former Governor of Abia State accused Obasanjo of lying to Nigerians and the general public at a recent event in Ghana that he never wanted a third term.
Kalu insisted that many others who knew about the failed third-term agenda are still alive.
The lawmaker added that Obasanjo shared large sums of money to lawmakers and other political office holders at that time to support his bid to remain in office beyond 2027.
“With due respect to President Obasanjo, what he said in Ghana was a naked lie, a naked fallacy.”
“Many people who were part of that period are still alive — David Mark is alive, others are alive. They know the truth,” Kalu declared.
Naijaonpoint reports that Kalu, during the interview, however, said he rejected the money offered to him.
“Senator Wande brought ₦50 million which they shared, and they asked me if I would take as a governor,” Kalu stated.
“I said no — go and give it back. Even the National Security Adviser at that time was aware of what was happening. Obasanjo was at the centre of it all.”
The Senator said his political rift with Obasanjo started because he didn’t support the third-term agenda and also reported the matter to the international community, including Thabo Mbeki of South Africa and George Bush of the United States.
“My quarrel with him started when I told Presidents Thabo Mbeki of South Africa and George Bush of the United States that Obasanjo was running for a third term.
“I even told Nelson Mandela, may his soul rest in peace. They all confronted him. I don’t know why Nigeria should be built on lies by statesmen,” Kalu said.
We Stopped Him
Speaking further on the third term bid, Kalu alleged that Obasanjo had a personal discussion with him and cited examples of some long-serving leaders in other countries, such as Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi, to justify his ambition.
He said, “Of course, he told me in the Villa.
“That was the beginning. I told him it was not possible. He had already convinced some governors, but people like me and a few others said no. I am a committed Christian. I took an oath with the Bible to serve for only eight years, and that was the end of it.”
Kalu added that Obasanjo already had some Governors on his side, but he and some other politicians stood against the plan.
“He used to say Gaddafi was still there, others were still there.
“But democracy is about the rule of law. The beauty of constitutional democracy is the time limits. If the constitution says eight years, nobody should go beyond that. Anyone who tries is inviting the wrath of God.
“He told many northern governors too. If those governors are courageous enough, they will say the truth.
“He wanted a third term, and we stopped him. He was even at loggerheads with Governor Peter Odili over it. The man cannot rewrite history — it is clear he wanted a third term.”
“We stopped him because of the Constitution. Our constitution is supreme. Even the U.S. government under President George Bush supported efforts to stop him. History will remember that some of us stood for democracy,” Kalu declared.
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