Olusegun Obasanjo.webp
The Digest:

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has vehemently denied allegations of seeking a third term in office, challenging critics to provide evidence and asserting that achieving debt relief was harder than extending his presidency. Speaking at the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation event in Ghana, he criticized leaders who cling to power as “sinning against God.” Rooted in the Storm.

Key Points

  • Obasanjo dismissed third-term claims as baseless, stating no one can prove he pursued it.
  • He argued that securing debt relief for Nigeria was more difficult than amending the constitution for a third term.
  • The former president warned against leaders who act irreplaceably, calling it a “sin against God.”
  • He emphasized that youthful, dynamic leadership is optimal, not prolonged tenures.
  • Obasanjo noted that successors may perform better or worse, but power must transition.
  • His remarks occurred at a democracy dialogue in Accra, reinforcing his legacy of opposing tenure elongation.
  • The speech indirectly addressed contemporary debates about leadership rotation and accountability.
Obasanjo’s rebuttal revisits a contentious historical narrative while reinforcing principles of democratic transition and leadership humility.

Sources: Daily Post Nigeria