Political activist and civil society leader, Dr. Usman Bugaje, has dismissed former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s recent denial of seeking a third term in office, insisting that the former leader made frantic efforts to extend his stay in power.
Grassroots Parrot reports that Obasanjo, while speaking at a democracy dialogue organised by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Accra, Ghana, last week, had downplayed the long-running controversy, saying there was no evidence he ever sought to amend the constitution to remain in office beyond 2007.
“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 had said.
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But appearing on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Monday, September 22, Bugaje, who served in the National Assembly during Obasanjo’s presidency, flatly contradicted the ex-president’s claims.
“I can confirm to you that Obasanjo looked for a third term. He did everything that he could within his power to get a third term, and he failed to do so,” Bugaje said.
According to him, Obasanjo’s denial hinged only on semantics. “Now, the fact that he did not take a telephone to make a particular call to anybody is not sufficient evidence that he did not look for a third term.
It’s just a matter of style, but all of us in the National Assembly at that time knew beyond any doubt that he worked day and night, and many of us were threatened by his own agents.”
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Bugaje further recalled how lawmakers faced intimidation and inducements during the heated period, citing Senator Victor Lar, then leader of the Northern caucus in the House of Representatives, who allegedly had to go into hiding to avoid pressure before a decisive meeting against the bid.
“Those people who actually distributed the money and threatened us are alive. Those who received the money are alive. Those who refused to receive the money are alive. There is sufficient evidence… this is a matter that is incontrovertible; there is no way he can deny it,” Bugaje declared.