Third Term Agenda: Obasanjo Thought Only He Could Rule Nigeria Well – Ken Nnamani

Former Senate President Ken Nnamani has claimed that former President Olusegun Obasanjo denied Nigeria the opportunity to witness huge reforms by pushing for a “third term” in office when the 5th Senate attempted to amend the country’s constitution.

He stated this on Monday while analyzing his book, ‘Standing Strong’ on AIT’s ‘Kakaaki’ programme.

The book will be launched on Thursday, October 21, 2021.

In the book, Nnamani addressed the third term controversy and other issues under his watch as the then Senate President.

Nnamani explained that Obanjo’s alleged drive a for third term destroyed the whole plan to amend the constitution which also proposed the creation of more states.

He said, “What has come to define my tenure in office has turned to be the amendment of the Nigerian constitution which people describe as the ‘third term debate’, the bill became a third term bill. But it is more than that.

“The amendment involves so many other good things like creation of new states, abrogation of Section 308 and that is the immunity for the serving officers of the executive section… But one singular clause there came to dominate everything and that singular clause was the elongation of the tenure of the executive branch of government… So, it turned out to be called the third term.”

Obasanjo, who was president from 1999 to 2007, was enmeshed in the “Third Term” controversy after some persons moved for the modification the constitution so he could serve a third four-year term as president.

The move caused a media uproar and the bill to that effect was dropped by the National Assembly.

Although Obasanjo had denied involvement in the plan, Nnamani said the ex-president pushed for an unconstitutional means of amending the constitution.

“It was necessary for Nigerians to hear from me and know what happened during that amendment especially the final day, 16th of May, 2006…

“Whatever happened during that heady period was [an attempt] by somebody who thinks he is the only one who can do good for the country– Messianic type of syndrome. Somebody can fall a victim of that and if you fall a victim of that, the assumption is that you need more time to complete the work that you are doing and you feel you are probably the only person that can do it very well… and you can see the consequences.”

The former president had in his book claimed that he never initiated the third term ambition, while also denying that he paid anyone to push the agenda.

The debate for the extension of tenure only lasted for six days at the Senate.

Nnamani said, “I want to point out very clearly that it is not about Ken Nnamani versus former president Obasanjo. No, he has given his own account and I have given mine. Nigerians are at liberty to go through and find out… I thank God I have the opportunity of doing this now, because if I had passed away before now, it would remain only his own side. You have two sides of the coin. People can read and make their own interpretations.”

The former senator also insisted that the former president paid huge sums conveyed in bullion vans, adding that he refused to share from the billions released by the former president.

“The issue of inducement, if you remember that time, some journalist that covered the National Assembly, there were pictures of bullion vans going on and heavy sums of money went into circulation. How the money came and was pure mint, that was the time of the advent of N1,000 note… The fact that I said nobody will bring a bullion van to my residence- nobody will do that I made sure that I protected myself and the people around me from participating in the distribution of the inducement or anything that is involved,” Nnamani added.

He explained that the pressure for the third term was much, but that he had to stand his ground for the country’s democracy.

The politician further narrated how he told Obasanjo’s aide in the Aso Rock Villa that the 5th Senate would not approve the third term agenda, except if other senators would approve it in the future.

“The call came from the villa, a retired major general- a complete upright gentleman said ‘what will I tell baba? I told him to tell baba the matter is finished. We cannot do anything about this according to the standing rules of the Senate and the procedures,” he added.