“I’m Not A Fool; I Never Asked For Third Term As President” – Obasanjo

…Says, “Debt Relief Harder Than Third Term”

ACCRA, GHANA – Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has firmly denied ever pursuing a third term in office.

Speaking at the Democracy Dialogue organised by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Accra, Ghana, he stated that no Nigerian, dead or alive, could truthfully claim he sought 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”, Obasanjo declared.

The former president argued that he had already achieved more difficult national goals, such as securing debt relief for Nigeria, which was a greater challenge than seeking tenure elongation.

“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,” he said.

Obasanjo further cautioned African leaders against overstaying their welcome in office, stressing that believing oneself to be indispensable was a “sin against God.”

On his part, former President Goodluck Jonathan said any leader who failed to deliver on promises would be voted out of office if proper elections were conducted. He identified electoral manipulation as one of the biggest threats to democracy in Africa.

Jonathan warned that unless stakeholders work together to reform Africa’s electoral systems, democracy on the continent may collapse.

“Democracy in the African continent 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,” he said.

The former president emphasised that Africans desire freedoms, fair elections, equitable representation, good education, security, jobs, and dignity.

He stressed that when leaders fail to provide these basic needs, people become disillusioned.

The Democracy Dialogue also featured Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission; Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto Diocese; and other prominent figures.

Speakers collectively underscored that democracy in Africa must go beyond elections to embrace accountability, service, and discipline.