Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has once again dismissed claims that he sought to extend his presidency beyond two terms, insisting that he never pursued a third term in office.
Speaking at the Democracy Dialogue organised by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Accra, Ghana, Obasanjo said there is no Nigerian, living or dead, who could truthfully claim that he solicited their support for a third term agenda.
“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 said.
The former president argued that his administration’s success in securing debt relief for Nigeria was a more difficult task than any third term ambition. “I keep reminding people: if I could secure debt relief, which was harder than getting a third term, then if I wanted a third term, I would have achieved it as well,” he added.
Obasanjo further cautioned leaders against clinging to power, warning that such attitudes weaken governance and betray the public trust. “The best leadership comes when you are young, vibrant, and dynamic. When you are weak and frail, you cannot give your best. Yet some believe that unless they are in power, no one else can govern. That, I believe, is a sin against God, because once you are gone, someone else will step in — and they may perform better or worse,” he said.
On his part, former President Goodluck Jonathan said democracy in Africa was at risk unless electoral systems were reformed to ensure credibility and inclusiveness. “Democracy in Africa is going through a period of strain and risk of collapse unless stakeholders come together to rethink and reform it. Electoral manipulation remains one of the biggest threats in Africa,” Jonathan said.
He stressed that leaders who fail to perform should be removed at the ballot box. “If we had proper elections, a leader who fails to perform would be voted out. But in our case, people use the system to perpetuate themselves even when the people don’t want them,” he noted.
Jonathan listed citizens’ expectations as central to Africa’s democratic future. “Our people want to enjoy their freedoms. They want their votes to count during elections. They want equitable representation and inclusivity. They want good education, security, access to healthcare, jobs, and dignity. When leaders fail to meet these basic needs, the people become disillusioned,” he said.
The dialogue also featured the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, who both stressed that democracy must go beyond elections to embody accountability, service, and discipline.
