Following that tradition and our long struggle against dictatorship and subversion of the rule of law, the Yoruba nation rejects any attempt to elongate, extend or perpetuate the tenure of President Obasanjo, the state governors and all other elected officials” –Afenifere

By AYO FALODUN, TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE and TONY AKOWE, Kaduna
Those advocating a third term in office for President Olusegun Obasanjo in defiance of constitutional provisions on term limits have been told to halt the campaign and devote their energy to good governance and how to make life more meaningful for the people.

Former military governor of Western Region and president of Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), Major General Adeyinka Adebayo who gave this piece of advice in an interview with NewAge in Lagos said despite being close to President Olusegun Obasanjo, he has not told him he would seek for a third term in office.

Said Adebayo, “I don’t want to discuss the issue because President Obasanjo has not said he is interested in third term or not. So it would be difficult for people like me to make noise on it now. I would advise the people not to promote this third term aspiration until he announces his intention to plan for third term. The people would be at liberty to criticise the plan the way they want.”

He counselled the ministers and personal aides of the president promoting the third term bid to make Nigeria a better society.

“If Obasanjo’s ministers and other political appointees use the same zeal with which they are promoting third term to find solutions to the nation’s problem, most Nigerians would be contented and it is the Nigerian people who would urge him to have third term of office not that it would be forced down their throats,” he stated.

Adebayo has joined the chorus of opinion that takes a dim view of a third term in office being promoted surreptitiously by certain office holders but which the president himself has denied in the past.

Also, yesterday, Afenifere, a pan-Yoruba socio-political and economic organisation, restated its opposition to the alleged third term agenda, stressing that the Yoruba will reject any attempt to extend the tenure of any political office holder.

A communiqué signed by the publicity secretary of the organisation, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, stated that the group stands for fairness, equity and justice in its involvement in the political issues in the country. “The Yoruba people are known for fairness, equity and justice as epitomised by Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s struggle for libertarian values in all his years of political involvement in Nigeria.

“Following that tradition and our long struggle against dictatorship and subversion of the rule of law, the Yoruba nation rejects any attempt to elongate, extend or perpetuate the tenure of President Obasanjo, the state governors and all other elected officials,” the communiqué stated. Some of the Afenifere leaders present at the meeting were, Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, represented by his deputy, Otunba Femi Pedro, Chief Segun Osoba, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Senator Sikiru Shitta-Bey, Chief Olatunji Hamzat, Chief George Akosile, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, Omotilewa Aro-Lambo, Alhaji Rauf Aregbesola, Mr. Kola Awodein (SAN), Chief Remi Adikwu-Bakare and Prince Dayo Adeyeye.

Speaking in the same vein, the chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Amuwo-Odofin local government of Lagos State, Alhaja Babs Olorunkemi had said that the third term agenda is a plan by some politicians to cause chaos in the nation since President Obasanjo has not shown any interest in the issue.

Speaking to NewAge, Alhaja Olorunkemi stressed that the alleged third term bid is a deliberate effort by some elements to scuttle the forthcoming 2007 election, adding that President Obasanjo was not ready to go for any third term.

“The alleged third term agenda is a speculation of some politicians. The President has said many times in the past that he is not ready to go for any third term. What the president said is that after the end of his tenure in 2007, he would hand over power and go back to his farm in Ota, Ogun State to rest. So I don’t see the reason why some set of politicians will be clamouring for third term bid for the president, since he is not ready to go for it,” she said. Meanwhile, Yobe State Governor, Alhaji Bukar Abba Ibrahim has said that his ambition is to take over the presidency from President Obasanjo. This is in contrast to his earlier stated position that Obasanjo could go for a third term. He has since denied making such a statement.

The governor told newsmen in Kaduna that he had already made a statement of intent about his ambition but that he had not made any arrangement towards actualising his ambition.

“I have made a statement of intent that I am interested in that seat (President's seat). Whether it is in 2007,2009 or whenever, I am interested in that seat and I want to take over from the president.

"I have already given my reasons why I want to be president. However, don't forget that I have been elected as a governor for four years and I have only gone two years.

"Although people say that the seat is not vacant, I know that it will be vacant one day. I am younger than the president and I want to know that the seat will definitely be vacant one day, no matter the time,” he said.

Asked whether he was confident about the position being vacant in 2007 the governor said "I am not even sure of tomorrow, talk less of 2007. However, whenever the seat becomes vacant, I am interested in occupying it. What is most important to me is when the seat becomes vacant and not whether someone is interested in a third term or not. However, the northern governors have taken a collective decision on the matter."

On the controversial return of Bayelsa State governor to the country from London where he was standing trial for money laundering, the governor refused to make any categorical statement.

"Don't forget he is still my colleague. Moreover, I have not been briefed on the circumstance that led to his arrest. You must have accurate information to be a moral judge", he said.