“I Never Wanted To A Third Term” – Olusegun Obasanjo

Olusegun Obasanjo, former president of Nigeria, denied rumours that he wanted to serve a third term as leader of the nation.

This was said by Obasanjo during a virtual engagement hosted by Pastor Itua Ighodalo and organized by Africa Leadership Group.

The engagement was themed “Leadership and nation-building.”

Obasanjo spoke on him wanting a third term, saying: “I never asked for a third term. If I wanted a third term, I would have got it. I am audacious enough to know how to get it.”

He noted that despite the fact that obtaining debt relief for the nation was virtually impossible, he “got it,” and that was a sign.

He claimed that leadership is currently Africa’s biggest problem.

He said: “Nigeria is where we are because of leadership. We must decisively look for men and women who have the character, attributes, skill and attitude that we need for leadership that will deliver this country.”

When asked if he would organize former heads of state to support Peter Obi’s campaign after publicly endorsing the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Obasanjo said he would not run a campaign for anyone.

He said, “I am not on his campaign train. I do not belong to any political party. I will not join any campaign train. I’ve said what is best for the country.”

Obasanjo called for a change in the Nigerian Constitution in his speech.

He said: “Some people blame the constitution for everything in Nigeria. Of course, our constitution is not perfect, and there is no constitution that is sacrosanct and it can be amended.”

According to him, devolution of power should be part of the amended constitution.

Obasanjo questioned the allocation of salaries among Nigerian lawmakers, noting that they go above and beyond the call of duty to pay themselves outrageous salaries.

He said: “The lawmakers have no right to fix their own salary. The salary and bonus of our lawmakers is supposed to be fixed by revenue mobilisation but they took it upon themselves to do that. Where is that done? When I was there, whatever I believed should not be paid, since I have to release the fund, I don’t release. There was a time they threatened to impeach me.”

He also expressed concern about the huge number of petroleum products that are being stolen.

He went on to say that the country’s level of corruption, kidnapping, and banditry is concerning.

The former president said: “With this type of situation, the economy will not grow the way it ought. People will not come and invest in a country that is not secure and safe. Unless there is investment there will not be growth.

“We don’t have absolute control of our oil industry. Since the discovery of oil in commercial quantities in 1956 up to today, we are still flaring gas. The amount of money we are flaring in gas is colossal, those who are exploring and exploiting our oil, didn’t feel they need the gas, if all we have done is to produce that gas for our domestic use by now, our situation would have been different.”