How Obasanjo’s Third Term Agenda, Life Presidency Plan Was Ended – Oshiomhole

Former Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has made a fresh claim about the alleged third-term agenda of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, claiming that the former Nigerian leader wanted to become a life president.

According to Oshiomhole, it took the staunch determination of the National Assembly under Senator Ken Nnamani to stop Obasanjo from transforming himself into a president for life, like President Paul Biya of Cameroon, and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, if he had succeeded with the plan to amend the constitution to allow for the third term.

Naija News reports that Oshiomhole made the claim while speaking in Akure, the Ondo State capital, during the lecture titled “June 12 and Beyond: Reflecting on the Progress of Democracy and Security Concerns” to mark the 2026 June 12 celebration.

He stated that Nnamani resisted the pressure of a third-term agenda despite being in the same political party as Obasanjo.

The former Governor added that the National Assembly leadership at that time allowed proceedings to be televised so every lawmaker would be accountable for his or her position.

“By his decision to stand firm, to resist the pressure from President Obasanjo to do a third term, and maybe to become a life president, we will all celebrate him for that. So every leader at any level, what we do, what we obtain from doing, will be remembered.

“I have often argued that the National Assembly deserves credit for defending democracy. During the debate over the proposed third-term agenda, the Senate leadership allowed proceedings to be televised so that every senator would be publicly accountable for his vote,” Oshiomhole said.

Also, Oshiomhole revealed that the country’s late military ruler, General Sani Abacha, was prepared to offer Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola anything in exchange for relinquishing his claim to the June 12, 1993, presidential mandate.

According to him, he was part of a delegation of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) that met with General Abacha in Abuja following the annulment of the June 12 election, widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest poll.

His words, “General Abacha told us he was ready to tolerate anything and do anything for MKO Abiola. The one thing he was not ready to tolerate was the idea that Abiola had proclaimed himself President of Nigeria.”

The former governor noted that despite mounting pressure and several attempts to persuade Abiola to accept conditions for his freedom, the late politician remained resolute in defending the mandate given to him by Nigerians.

Oshiomhole recalled that government officials and intermediaries repeatedly urged Abiola to renounce his claim to the presidency in exchange for his release from detention, but he refused.

“He told those who sent us that he was elected President of Nigeria and would not sell the mandate entrusted to him by the Nigerian people,” the Edo North Senator said.

According to him, Abiola was not ready to monetize or betray the confidence of Nigerians who voted for him in exchange for personal comfort and survival.

He said, “Those market women, farmers, students, and workers who queued to vote for him made sacrifices. He felt he could not monetise or compromise their sweat by accepting any condition other than the recognition of their mandate.”