“Not a single Nigerian, dead or alive, can say I ever expressed interest in a third term.” — Obasanjo

Former Nigerian president insists he never sought tenure extension, warns against power obsession

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has dismissed widespread speculation that he attempted to extend his presidency beyond the constitutionally allowed two terms. Speaking during a democracy dialogue organized by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Accra, Ghana, on Wednesday, the former leader addressed the persistent rumors directly.

“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 firmly.

Obasanjo, who governed Nigeria from 1999 to 2007, highlighted that achieving international debt relief during his administration was a far greater challenge than pursuing a tenure extension. “If I wanted to get debt relief, which is more difficult than getting a third term and I got it, if I wanted a third term, I would have got it too,” he added.

The former president also cautioned African leaders against clinging to power, describing the tendency as a dangerous illusion of self-importance. “Some people believe that unless they are there, nobody else [can lead]. That is a sin against God,” he warned. “If God takes you away, which can happen at any time, then somebody else will step in — and that person may do better or may do worse.”

As part of the broader conversation on democratic governance in Africa, Obasanjo called for generational renewal in leadership, urging governments to invest in youth, dynamism, and fresh ideas to drive sustainable progress.

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