By Promise Dera
Copyright nigerianeye
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing Abia North, has publicly accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of lying about never seeking a third term in office, alleging that Obasanjo personally confided in him about plans to extend his presidency.
The explosive claim, made during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, October 8, directly contradicts Obasanjo’s recent denial at the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation’s Democracy Dialogue in Accra, where he dismissed third-term allegations, stating, “There is no Nigerian dead or alive that would say I called him and told him I wanted a third term.”
Kalu, a former Abia State governor, called Obasanjo’s denial “a naked lie, a naked fallacy,” asserting that contemporaries like former Senate President David Mark could corroborate the truth.
He claimed Obasanjo invited him to the Presidential Villa during his administration to discuss amending the constitution to allow a third term.
Kalu further alleged that the late Senator Uche Chukwumerije delivered ₦50 million to support the campaign, which was distributed among officials, though he personally refused a share.
He suggested the then-National Security Adviser could confirm Obasanjo’s awareness of the plot.The senator revealed that his fallout with Obasanjo stemmed from his opposition to the third-term agenda.
Kalu said he alerted world leaders, including South Africa’s Thabo Mbeki, the United States’ George Bush, and the late Nelson Mandela, who confronted Obasanjo over the issue.
While Obasanjo reportedly secured the support of some state governors for the constitutional amendment, Kalu and a few others stood firm against it.
“I took an oath with the Bible to serve for only eight years, and that was the end of it,” Kalu stated, decrying what he called a culture of “lies by statesmen” in Nigerian politics.
The allegations reignite a decades-old controversy surrounding Obasanjo’s tenure, raising questions about political transparency and accountability.
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