It all began when I pleaded with my children to change their film channel to allow me listen to news on Channels Television of Nigeria; as the news was coming to an end, they begged me to return to their film channel and I pleaded for few minutes when I saw the face of our two time former president.
The request was granted reluctantly, for they quipped, as if they smelt mischief and malicious lie, what has the old con artist up his sleeves? Revelations after revelations of less than transparent transactions like the power probe, privatizations of State Owned Enterprises’ scam et al had made my kids to change their rating of Chief Obasanjo. Alas they were vindicated.
Vindicated in the sense that when the Channels Anchorman inquired about his role in the Joint AU/ECOWAS Peace Mission to Senegal before the February 26 Elections, in which he explained that it was a proactive peace mission to avoid conflict, arising from the disagreement between President Abdoluaye Wade and the opposition.
On how former president Wade manipulated the Constitution, Chief Obasanjo said that Wade did not manipulate the Constitution, but was only smart in getting the Constitutional Court to give judgment in his favour, which allowed him to run. And on the question whether the cause of justice was served, he said, ‘justice does not end here on earth, it ends hereafter’. It could be recalled that he supported Wade by proposing 2 year tenure, which the opposition rejected vehemently.
Spoiler?…Olusegun Obasanjo
The crux came with a follow up that ran thus, ‘can you reflect on the 3rd Term you pushed at the twilight of your regime?’
Chief Obasnjo reacted sharply, ‘I‘ve denied 3rd Term all along, those who belief their political fortune will be better served belief I organized 3rd Term. National Assembly initiated the Bill, which contained over 100 items, it was an Executive Bill. ……..My Adviser, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa told the world that I never assigned the role to her, even Alhaji Atiku Abubakar said they told him and never mentioned those who told him, even Senator Ibrahim Mantu who was the Chairman of the Committee will tell you I never told him. ……You‘re unfair, mischievous, I am not afraid if I wanted 3rd Term, I could‘ve got it. I never wanted anything and God did not give me’.
Am yet to recover from the trauma of not only the revision of recent and modern history of our dear country; but the use of God’s name recklessly, by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo – the greatest beneficiary of the Nigerian project.
Whereas, I was not surprise that he told barefaced lies without blinking an eye lid; that he was unstatesmanly in his denial, that he talked as if all the witnesses are dead; however at his age one expected some element of decency and honesty.
In his half-truth, the old fox forgot that Section 5 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria vested the Executive Powers only on him then; hence no one else except him had the powers to authorize the opening of the Central Bank of Nigeria vault, where billions of Naira was doled out.
The Chief spoke as if the ledgers of the Banks where monies ranging from N50m upwards were doled out to members of the National Assembly, Chiefs, Emirs, Obas and all manner of characters were recorded had been burnt. The ledgers are still there waiting for the appointed time, for the looting which took place in his inordinate ambition pursuit of 3rd Term was unprecedented and humongous.
Chief Obasanjo, needs be reminded that no matter his false and self-denial, he cannot deny the fact that 3rd Term more than the monumental corruption which was the metaphor of his regime, led to his failure to win the Mo Ibrahim Index Award in 2008, an annual award meant for ex-presidents. The report of the Mo Ibrahim Index Review Council condemned his unpatriotic and undemocratic role in the 3rd Term Bid.
Fellow Compatriots! Join me in taking solace on the truism that Nigerians and indeed the world cannot be deceived by an old con artist, who willfully failed to admit guilt, wants to revise history; for books like Power, Greed and Despotism authored by Tony Amadi, a veteran journalist did a good narration and documentation of the 3rd Term saga.
In the book Tony Amadi quoted extensively the debate at the Senate, excerpts; Ken Nnamani, President of the Senate as he then was, ‘Distinguished Senators, now that we are at the threshold of concluding this historic debate on the proposed amendment of the Constitution, I urge every Senator to rise above the challenges of patriotism. We should not become political entrepreneurs who pander after personal gains, but rather delegates and trustees of the people who will preserve democratic governance’.
Late Senator Mamman Ali, ‘Mr President, we have series of discontinuous narratives; those for and those against, those looking for the best vocabulary to express their actions. Some people have given us sanitized versions of events and possibilities. Some have given us their own accounts of events. They call it elongation, amendment, tenure limit extension, continuity, carry-go; but I see it as dubious’.
Senator Teslim Kolawale Folarin, ‘……I belong to two Constituencies; Oyo Central Senatorial District and the Poeples Democratic Party, the largest political party in Africa. I have consulted extensively with my primary constituency and the genral consensus is that we tow the party line. As a representative of my Senatorial District, I have a duty and responsibility to mirror their views.What I am saying Mr President, without any fear of contradiction is that we would be supporting the tenure extension’.
Senator Gbemisola Saraki-Fowora, ‘…..Some Senators have told us our Party, the PDP, has urged us all to support the amendments including tenure elongation and as such, being good and loyal members - solely because of the party’s position - they support same. …….The statement of being good party loyalists predisposes that anyone who disagrees with them is disloyal. We must not confuse dissent with disloyal’.
Senator Uche Chukwumerije, ‘Mr President, I will begin my comment on the Amendment Bill with one view, namely, that the Bill is a statement in self-contradiction. Most of its proposals are positive and could help to improve the structure and quality of federalism and democracy. But on the other hand, the proposal on the 3rd Term could destroy all these advantages’.
Senator Ibrahim Mantu, ‘The debate in favour of enhanced tenure is hinged on the need for the stability of our democracy and of economic and technological policy gains to ensure the consolidation of Nigeria’s overall development. It is noted that the phenomenal economic growths of the Asian Tigers were as a result of stable leadership.
We have, therefore, recommended a three-term tenure of four years each for the President and the State Governors. The tenure of the office holder is at the pleasure of the electorate who may decide whether to vote for them or not after each term’.
Arch-Bishop John Onaiyekan, ‘the move by some politicians to amend the constitution to ensure a 3rd Term tenure for President Olusegun Obasanjo is less than patriotic’. Thisday December 19 2005.
In sum, a cursory glance of the National Assembly’s Hansard and indeed other publications will clearly expose the perfidy and impunity of Chief Obasanjo; as his men passionately worked for the actualization of the 3rd Term with his consent; accordingly no amount of propaganda, revision of history and platitudes can delete his imprimatur in the 3rd Term imbroglio.
Written By Osita Okechukwu
The request was granted reluctantly, for they quipped, as if they smelt mischief and malicious lie, what has the old con artist up his sleeves? Revelations after revelations of less than transparent transactions like the power probe, privatizations of State Owned Enterprises’ scam et al had made my kids to change their rating of Chief Obasanjo. Alas they were vindicated.
Vindicated in the sense that when the Channels Anchorman inquired about his role in the Joint AU/ECOWAS Peace Mission to Senegal before the February 26 Elections, in which he explained that it was a proactive peace mission to avoid conflict, arising from the disagreement between President Abdoluaye Wade and the opposition.
On how former president Wade manipulated the Constitution, Chief Obasanjo said that Wade did not manipulate the Constitution, but was only smart in getting the Constitutional Court to give judgment in his favour, which allowed him to run. And on the question whether the cause of justice was served, he said, ‘justice does not end here on earth, it ends hereafter’. It could be recalled that he supported Wade by proposing 2 year tenure, which the opposition rejected vehemently.
Spoiler?…Olusegun Obasanjo
The crux came with a follow up that ran thus, ‘can you reflect on the 3rd Term you pushed at the twilight of your regime?’
Chief Obasnjo reacted sharply, ‘I‘ve denied 3rd Term all along, those who belief their political fortune will be better served belief I organized 3rd Term. National Assembly initiated the Bill, which contained over 100 items, it was an Executive Bill. ……..My Adviser, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa told the world that I never assigned the role to her, even Alhaji Atiku Abubakar said they told him and never mentioned those who told him, even Senator Ibrahim Mantu who was the Chairman of the Committee will tell you I never told him. ……You‘re unfair, mischievous, I am not afraid if I wanted 3rd Term, I could‘ve got it. I never wanted anything and God did not give me’.
Am yet to recover from the trauma of not only the revision of recent and modern history of our dear country; but the use of God’s name recklessly, by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo – the greatest beneficiary of the Nigerian project.
Whereas, I was not surprise that he told barefaced lies without blinking an eye lid; that he was unstatesmanly in his denial, that he talked as if all the witnesses are dead; however at his age one expected some element of decency and honesty.
In his half-truth, the old fox forgot that Section 5 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria vested the Executive Powers only on him then; hence no one else except him had the powers to authorize the opening of the Central Bank of Nigeria vault, where billions of Naira was doled out.
The Chief spoke as if the ledgers of the Banks where monies ranging from N50m upwards were doled out to members of the National Assembly, Chiefs, Emirs, Obas and all manner of characters were recorded had been burnt. The ledgers are still there waiting for the appointed time, for the looting which took place in his inordinate ambition pursuit of 3rd Term was unprecedented and humongous.
Chief Obasanjo, needs be reminded that no matter his false and self-denial, he cannot deny the fact that 3rd Term more than the monumental corruption which was the metaphor of his regime, led to his failure to win the Mo Ibrahim Index Award in 2008, an annual award meant for ex-presidents. The report of the Mo Ibrahim Index Review Council condemned his unpatriotic and undemocratic role in the 3rd Term Bid.
Fellow Compatriots! Join me in taking solace on the truism that Nigerians and indeed the world cannot be deceived by an old con artist, who willfully failed to admit guilt, wants to revise history; for books like Power, Greed and Despotism authored by Tony Amadi, a veteran journalist did a good narration and documentation of the 3rd Term saga.
In the book Tony Amadi quoted extensively the debate at the Senate, excerpts; Ken Nnamani, President of the Senate as he then was, ‘Distinguished Senators, now that we are at the threshold of concluding this historic debate on the proposed amendment of the Constitution, I urge every Senator to rise above the challenges of patriotism. We should not become political entrepreneurs who pander after personal gains, but rather delegates and trustees of the people who will preserve democratic governance’.
Late Senator Mamman Ali, ‘Mr President, we have series of discontinuous narratives; those for and those against, those looking for the best vocabulary to express their actions. Some people have given us sanitized versions of events and possibilities. Some have given us their own accounts of events. They call it elongation, amendment, tenure limit extension, continuity, carry-go; but I see it as dubious’.
Senator Teslim Kolawale Folarin, ‘……I belong to two Constituencies; Oyo Central Senatorial District and the Poeples Democratic Party, the largest political party in Africa. I have consulted extensively with my primary constituency and the genral consensus is that we tow the party line. As a representative of my Senatorial District, I have a duty and responsibility to mirror their views.What I am saying Mr President, without any fear of contradiction is that we would be supporting the tenure extension’.
Senator Gbemisola Saraki-Fowora, ‘…..Some Senators have told us our Party, the PDP, has urged us all to support the amendments including tenure elongation and as such, being good and loyal members - solely because of the party’s position - they support same. …….The statement of being good party loyalists predisposes that anyone who disagrees with them is disloyal. We must not confuse dissent with disloyal’.
Senator Uche Chukwumerije, ‘Mr President, I will begin my comment on the Amendment Bill with one view, namely, that the Bill is a statement in self-contradiction. Most of its proposals are positive and could help to improve the structure and quality of federalism and democracy. But on the other hand, the proposal on the 3rd Term could destroy all these advantages’.
Senator Ibrahim Mantu, ‘The debate in favour of enhanced tenure is hinged on the need for the stability of our democracy and of economic and technological policy gains to ensure the consolidation of Nigeria’s overall development. It is noted that the phenomenal economic growths of the Asian Tigers were as a result of stable leadership.
We have, therefore, recommended a three-term tenure of four years each for the President and the State Governors. The tenure of the office holder is at the pleasure of the electorate who may decide whether to vote for them or not after each term’.
Arch-Bishop John Onaiyekan, ‘the move by some politicians to amend the constitution to ensure a 3rd Term tenure for President Olusegun Obasanjo is less than patriotic’. Thisday December 19 2005.
In sum, a cursory glance of the National Assembly’s Hansard and indeed other publications will clearly expose the perfidy and impunity of Chief Obasanjo; as his men passionately worked for the actualization of the 3rd Term with his consent; accordingly no amount of propaganda, revision of history and platitudes can delete his imprimatur in the 3rd Term imbroglio.
Written By Osita Okechukwu
Publicity Secretary of Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP)
