Nigerian newspaper editors almost fell over each other on Friday, March 31, with reports of what was supposed to be President Obasanjo's open repudiation of the third term agenda which has so far heated up the system and generated so much concern and anxiety. In separate interviews with the CNN and VOA, in the course of his most recent visit to the United States, the President was reported to have declared that his plan is to complete the term that he has at hand, and that he will not do anything that is unconstitutional. He swore that he is not manipulating the National Assembly to amend the constitution. He argued that the third term issue is Nigeria's affair, and that whatever may be happening is not personal to Obasanjo or his government. Referring to the third term agenda, he declared matter-of-factly: "For now, it is not on the cards".

Are we expected to believe the President? Can we simply on the strength of his offshore declaration accept that he is a democrat and not a manipulator? I doubt. This is certainly not the first time that the President would offer some comments on the politics of third term. The curious fact is that he has found it most convenient to address the subject only when is out of the country. When he is asked a similar question by the local press, the President is usually not forthcoming. It is either the man has a complex or he holds the local press in gross contempt. But no matter.

The third term issue has become so weighty; it has divided the country so sharply, it has raised the stakes of national unity, and it has put President Obasanjo so much on the spot, that the best way to resolve it is certainly not by hearsay. President Obasanjo grants an interview to CNN and VOA and his tongue suddenly begins to dance. Nigerians have every reason to feel insulted. If President Obasanjo understands how the politics of his stay in office, now and later affects the Nigerian situation, he would not consider it beneath him to address Nigerians directly and reassure them of his good faith. What is required in the third term matter is a state of the nation address by the President in which he will tell all Nigerians categorically, that he Matthew Okikiolakan Aremu Olusegun Obsanjo will not stay a day longer than May 29, 2007 in office. And that even if the National Assembly amends the Constitution to make this possible, he as a true Baptist, as a Christian, as a man of honour, as a gentleman, will not shift the goal-post to suit his own selfish desires. His declaration must be this categorical and unambiguous for it to be credible.

This is important because I assure you, what the President told the CNN and VOA about third term politics amounts to nothing. He is merely playing games. He has not said anything new nor has he said anything that can reassure the section of the public which believes that a man needs not die in office before he can make an impact as a leader. President Obasanjo says he is not manipulating the National Assembly. Yes, we do not expect him to do so. He says he is fully committed to the Nigerian Constitution. Yes, that is what we expect him to say, even if on many occasions, his government has shown absolute disregard for the same Constitution. "I am not a maneuoverer, I am not a manipulator, I am a democrat," he said. But how about Oyo state, Anambra, Plateau, Bayelsa, the refusal to appoint a Petroleum Minister, the intrigues within the PDP, the political use of the EFCC, the duplicitous handling of critical issues? What President Obasanjo told CNN and VOA in plain terms is that he is a defender of the rule of law: if the Nigerian legislature changes the Constitution tomorrow to offer him another extra four or twelve years, he will have no option but to respect the Constitution. This is indeed a pity.

Under President Obasanjo, the Constitution has been subjected to great ridicule. It has become a tool in the hands of politicians to be interpreted as they deem fit. The President has repeated the same old excuse that his aides have been using: Baba will respect the Constitution. But Nigerians can no longer be fooled. Recent events at the National Assembly have shown that indeed there is a great Obasanjo-for-life lobby at the highest levels of government. Obasanjo himself has not said anything to discourage those lobbyists. He must address the nation and tell us that such lobbyists are enemies of the Nigerian nation, and that he Obasanjo, publicly disowns them. If he must say this, let him not say it on CNN or VOA, let him use the NTA or any other internal media organ. The President worsens his case when it is seen that he is playing games with the people. "For now, it is not on the cards." So, what is on the cards? "For now...?" Could third term be on the cards later then? The President stressed the phrase "for now...": this means he may change his mind later on.

Obasanjo's problem is not really Constitutional but moralistic. It will be immoral for him to remain in office through the back door against the wishes of the Nigerian people. Given the manner in which his continued stay in office has been presented as a fait accompli, we are more or less telling the rest of the world that Nigeria's democracy can be manipulated by anyone who has the means to do so. The President has exonerated himself; he has pushed the matter to the National Assembly. This is one of those few moments in Nigerian history when the legislature is required to make a life-threatening decision. Will the legislature betray the Nigerian people? Will our lawmakers stand up in defence of the common good? The Nigerian people will expect that the lawmakers will not bring disgrace and shame upon their individual heads by turning the legislature into an assembly of hungry and dishonorable men and women. Whenever the Third Term issue is tabled for a vote, let all the patriots in the National Assembly stand up to be counted on the side of justice.

Morals apart, Nigerians are tired of the Obasanjo government. They have been told too many lies. They have witnessed in seven years, how a rich nation can bring so much anguish to its own people. Should President Obasanjo be rewarded with an extension of his tenure? The tale that is broad is that there is nobody that can step into his shoes and take his place. This excuse is so silly, no intelligent man or woman should be found mouthing it. What should be done is to create an open playing field. There will be more than enough people who want to be President of Nigeria and it will be the duty of the Nigerian people to make their choice. Already, former President Ibrahim Babangida has said that he is interested in the office. IBB as he is better known has a right to say whatever he likes with his mouth, but he is not the kind of man Nigerians need. Nigerians must deny him the privilege of returning to the Presidential Villa. When he had the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the people, he wasted the opportunity. His sins are well-documented ion an instructive book titled 2007: The IBB Option by Joe Igbokwe and Peter Oparah (2004). What Nigerians need in the Presidential Villa is a man or woman with a clear, unmistaken commitment to the common good.

I have heard the view expressed that President Obasanjo has offended so many people in the past seven years, as a result, he cannot afford to leave office. Again, this is not a useful excuse Nigerians forget and forgive quite easily. In another two years, there will be many among us who will refer to the Obasanjo years as a season of Paradise. Today, we are busy praising General Sani Abacha. The past is always a better country in the eyes of Nigerians. Another four years of Obasanjo Presidency will not result in any consolidation of achievements but agony for Nigerians. Is the President not aware that Nigerians are being intimidated to support the third term? Does he know that anyone who opposes the so-called third term agenda is regarded as an enemy by his own supporters even if many of them are unhappy? Let President Obasanjo begin to pack his things out of Aso Villa. Let him begin to see himself returning to his chosen role as a farmer. Let him begin a tour of the country to say farewell. Long after he may have left office, Obasanjo must know that Nigeria will still be here.

Nigerians deserve to smile. When Obasanjo leaves, they will find cause to smile again, and they will look towards the future with renewed hope. Enough of the voice of Esau and the hands of Jacob. We are still at the same spot on the third term question. Only Obasanjo has the answer. He should stop taking us for granted. It is true that Nigeria's politics is Nigeria's affair, but whatever happens in Nigeria will have implications for the rest of Africa. In 2007, it will be nice to know what Obasanjo will tell CNN and VOA.

Robot  # 1 | 02.04.2006 11:54

Is the President not aware that Nigerians are being intimidated to support the third term? Does he know that anyone who opposes the so-called third term agenda is regarded as an enemy by his own supporters even if many of them are unhappy? Let President Obasanjo begin to pack his things out of Aso Villa. Let him begin to see himself returning to his chosen role as a farmer. Let him begin a tour of the country to say farewell. Long after he may have left office, Obasanjo must know that Nigeria will still be here. ...Read the full article.

gwobezentashi  # 2 | 02.04.2006 14:37

Wow! Vintage Abati. Again you have scored bullseye with this one. Too much insincerity is the problem with the President. He accused IBB of playing with a whole country and he is now doing precisely that. What gnaws is the fact that he thinks that we are all stupid. If only he could guarantee us a free and fair election, we would not be worried because we know that the PDP would be roundly defeated at the polls by even a mouse. Their antecedents however tell us that they view their greatest task as getting the constitution amended and that it would be smooth sailing thereafter because they are a formidable electoral rigging machine (ERM). How wrong could they be? We will face them down every step of the way. At the Nat. Assembly, in the State Assemblies and at the polls even with their nonsensical EVM. This is a battle he cannot win because there are now 120m of us. How many of them are there? Importantly after he has left office which he must, he will account for everything that he has done and that is a promise. People get ready. Aluta! Gwobezentashi

antiobj2007  # 3 | 02.04.2006 16:09

I am not a maneuoverer, I am not a manipulator, I am a democrat." - Olusegun Obasanjo. Obasanjo is in a role playing situation. He has followed a script all his adult life that portrays a democrat. The gap between playing that role and reality has become extremely wide. It's either you have those democratic credentials or you don't. You can't fake it. Nigerians won't forget in a hurry Obasanjo's exploits in Oyo state and Anambra State. A man that wears his anti corruption credentials around his neck like a gold medal openly condones the use of bribery, intimidation and corrupt means to achieve his tenure extension. As Obasanjo gets out of his borrowed garb, we see the naked Obasanjo in his true form. A pretender and opportunist not worthy of our leadership.

UNREGISTER  # 4 | 02.04.2006 16:13

Let’s face it: If President Obasanjo were to declare today that he will not run for a third term, Abati will be the first to urge Nigerians to disbelieve him and just “wait and see”. Though he flip-flops between Obasanjo being the most distinguished Egba son etc and calling him a “manipulator”, I love to read Abati. We part ways when he begins his diatribe, vilification, insults and what (in Yoruba to English) we call “abuses” and in American “cursing” of our Congressmen and the President. When you begin to describe your National Assembly as an “assembly of hungry and dishonourable men and women” just because of “third term” , I want to pretend I never read you. How does contesting the Presidency for a third term translate to “remaining in office through the back door”? Has President Obasanjo or the National Assembly barred any citizen from contesting into any office? Does Nigeria cease to be a democracy if our Constitution is amended to “inter alia” permit third term for President and Governors? (even ALL elected officials?) Did Dr Reuben Abati’s State Governor not contest for a third term in 2003 (Ogun State) for “Constitutional” reasons but was defeated by a newcomer. Does the British Constitution not permit the Prime Minister to contest interminably? Did an American President not contest for a third term as short ago as the World War II? If an incumbent contests an election does he automatically win? Did India cease to be a democracy when its first Constituent Assembly transformed into Parliament without fresh elections? Is third term not just one of the OPTIONS? Okay, “me I no support third term”. I want ONLY ONE TERM of 7 years PERIOD AND NO MORE i.e. amend the Constitution to prescribe one term and allow everybody (including the incumbents) to run. Can you tolerate my view or do I become anti-democratic for it? If you decide to hang anti-third term poster on Oshodi-Isolo Expressway so that commuters would not but see it as they pass by in heavy traffic does that stop Governor Donald Duke from dancing “African Konga” for third term on the streets of Calabar? IS THIRD TERM ARMAGEDON? Must we all be conscripted into your anti-third term train? If our President were what you call him, he would have been disallowed the White House visit. What is right is not always popular and what is popular is not always right. President George W Bush took America to War in Iraq in 2001. There were dissenting opinions in Congress and the UN but guess what, he won the 2004 Presidential Election with even greater majority. Winston Churchil led Britain through World War I but lost election shortly thereafter. The irony of it all is that critics like Abati often end up serving the very leadership they criticised and the precedents speak volumes. You wrote that the world would come to an end at the 2003 Elections yet nothing happened. You have been asking candidates to show up but no result. Has Obasanjo sealed their mouths? Why vilify a man and demand a stance on a matter that is at best INCHOATE? (remember that word?) The President is 100% right. Direct your pressure (blackmail) to your Congressman since a legislative act is what is at issue. WHAT IF (AFTER ALL YOUR VILIFICATION) THE PRESIDENT IS OFFERED BUT REJECTS THIRD TERM? By all means hold your views against President Obasanjo and deny him your vote if he asks but don’t defame our democracy or mislead others into thoughtless action. Abati gace us a good laugh the other day when he "ordered" President Obasanjo to open up the political space. Today's order is for him to give a national Address. Musical Cheers - Cheers for the music! HARAMBE-UJAMAA!

OMO AGBOLUAJE  # 5 | 03.04.2006 04:20

It is in deed very disheartening reading from you MR UNREGISTERED your response to DR Abati's write up. However, one would not be surprised to still find sychophants like in the days of ABACHA who regarded him indispensable when every facets of human essence of being had been grounded to a halt. The sad story is that someone in the habit of beating his/her mother could still have suppoters as in a popular saying. In reality, OBJ has failed woefully and has no moral justification staying in office a day after May 2007. We need a change to douse the tension and restivities in the land. If the constitution is changed to favour him, election would still be manipulated as he did in 2003. How dare you comparing the rule of law in US , England and elsewhere where human life and citizen rights are respected with us! Do they manipulate their congressmen/mp nilly willy as we do in Nigeria? Obasanjo has been lucky enough to be at the helm of affair that far. He should vacate before turning to a despot. It doesn't take that long for an intelligent leader to make a change in the life of his ordinary pple.

friddy  # 6 | 03.04.2006 07:03

mr unregistered, inchoate indeed!!!!. ebenezer obey song "" a rije ni madaru e je lo jawo....... ( those who live on treachery and perfidy should desist) is just apt here for your likes. babangida was tagged the maradona, methink obasanjo is the ronaldinho of this season. Abati was just reiterating want all of us already know about the thieving, shameless and selfish political class we have in our country.now we know obasanjo is the messiah nigeria needs hence he should be handed a blank cheque. olorun a gba wa ooo.

Kabikala  # 7 | 03.04.2006 07:09

Mr. Unregister Fani-Kayode Nweke, You are doing well in your spirited defence of your paymasters. Your views have become predictable and follow a well-known pattern - attack everyone with opposing views to the Obasanjo government. It's just that some of us can see through your antics as we are fully aware of the recent invasion of the NVS by agents of the outgoing (yes, outgoing!) regime. Your time is running out as you have just 14 months to go; so more grease to your elbow.

Jidex  # 8 | 03.04.2006 18:41

How much clearer do we want this man to say it?? Obj has no plans to leave Aso rock except he is forced and disgraced out!! Let any one who has the might and/or the means begin to deploy their resources now or else we will all still be here in 2007 lamenting. We also have to be careful not to fall ito the hands of opprtunists like Ibb who are waiting in the wings to fuel the "Obj must go" movement to their own "all too well known" selfish advantage. Let us be vigilant. these evil men do not have 2 heads. Nemesis is around the corner for all of them!!

Umunnah  # 9 | 06.04.2006 17:05

Dear Abati - It's good to read your communication regarding another four year quest by Obasanjo. This is indeed, in contrast to your previous articles that sings praises of these individuals. For example articles like: "Where are the Presidential Aspirants", "Grand Commander of Ibadan" et al in my view are very distasteful with issues at hand. If indeed you have sincerely repented from your support for Obasanjo, it's a good thing for our country and our peoples. I hope you remain in the part of our suffering peoples rather than sensationalization & trivilization of this people's problems. Thank you for a change of heart and May God bless you today and always. CUO UMUNNAH IN NEW YORK