Third Term: What Adedibu told Obasanjo

By Jackson Udom - 27.07.2008

AS admirers and as sociates of late Chief Lamidi Adedibu marked the 40th day of his passage Saturday, new facts have emerged on his advice to former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, during the agitation for a third term for the former president.

Information gleaned from the biography of Adedibu revealed that the late politician had reservations about the success of the project. According to the biography, Adedibu had visited Obasanjo in Ota, Ogun State, to clarify issues when speculations of the third term agenda became rife.

“Adedibu said he visited Obasanjo in Ota to establish the veracity of claims that he wanted a third term,” the biography notes. He also said when he visited president Obasanjo, he was diplomatic with the way he raised the issue because he felt that was the way he could get the truth.

“He said he began by praising Obasanjo for the landmark achievements he had recorded as President and statesman. He said he enumerated many of these achievements to drive home the point that Obasanjo was the greatest statesman to come out of Nigeria and then asked him how he intended to guarantee the continuation of these achievements when he relinquished power in 2007.

Adedibu said Obasanjo said he was determined to protect the legacies, although he “complained” that some people had been pressurising him to amend the Constitution and have another shot as the president.

“I said that was the right thing for Nigerians to do because the achievements from 1999 should not be lost,” Adedibu disclosed, as he laid the basis of his advice to Obasanjo on the occasion. He said he expressed sadness that Nigerians will not by concensus do the right thing by asking Obasanjo to continue in office, he said the fear is that many would oppose the suggestion for tenure extension. He said such controversy would tarnish the image of Obasanjo and deny him a place as the successor to Nelson Mandela as Africa’s number one statesman.

He said he counselled Obasanjo to look for someone he trusted that would continue his legacy and who would provide him the necessary support to step into the shoes of Mandela.

Obasanjo rejected the counsel and took the third term gamble. Adedibu, in interviews granted for the biography, said he warned many of the legislators working on the project that there was no way they would secure the 2/3 majority required in the National Assembly.

Giving the arithmetic of his thought, Adedibu said Obasanjo needed 72 senators to secure the amendment in the Senate and that out of the 51 senators from the South, six were in the opposition group opposed to third term. He said another six, including Senator Wabara and Senator Mbata, were opposed to Obasanjo for personal reasons and would not support third term. He said in the absence of a solid southern front, Obasanjo would need more than half of the senators from the North to win.

Adedibu then said he reasoned that it would be impossible for Obasanjo to win more votes among senators of Northern extraction than the combination of former President Ibrahim Babangida, General Muhammadu Buhari and the then Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who were all interested in contesting for the presidency in 2007.

As it turned out, Obasanjo lost the vote. Senators from the North who benefitted from the N50 million third term windfall were said to have regarded it as a “national cake” for which they had no responsibility to cast their votes in favour of tenure extension.

Meanwhile, Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala of Oyo State, his associates, friends and children of the late politician, were on hand to offer prayers marking the 40th day fidau for the repose of late Adedibu.

The prayer was led by Alhaji Mahmud Hamzat at the Molete residence of the late politician. In a sermon delivered by Dr B A Olanrewaju, the muslim scholar charged public office holders to govern with the fear of God, adding that, “where there is no fear of God, political instability will set in.”

According to him, “Let all those occupying positions of authority and leadership have the fear of God in their heart because where there is no fear of God, political and economic instability are bound to set in.”

He stated further that, “if our leaders at all levels rule with the fear of God, there would be peace and development all over the country,” The cleric thanked Otunba Akala for standing in for the late politician, saying, “You have not disappointed Baba even in death, that is a sign of loyalty and appreciation.

He charged the family of the late politician to ensure that the good deeds of Adedibu did not die with him. In his vote of thanks, Dr Abass Adedibu thanked the late politician’s supporters for their support, advice and steadfastness since the demise of their late father, assuring them that the children would keep the flag flying.

Present at the Fidau were the Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Hon Taofeek Arapaja, Oyo State deputy governor, Senator Teslim Folarin, Senate Leader, Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo, PDP Vice chairman (Southwest), Chief Kolapo Ishola, former governor Oyo State, Gen Raji Rasaki, former military governor of Ogun and Lagos states, Chief Bamidele Dada, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, Dr Saka Balogun, Alhaji Rasaq Gbadegesin, Dr Peter Babalola and Chief Bayo Bankole.

Others were Alhaji Suara, Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Alhaji Azeem Gbolarumi, Hon Ayo Adeseun, Hon Aderemi Gbede, Hon Taiwo Adewale, Alhaji Abass Oloko, Hon Demola Ige, Hon Gbenga Adewusi, Hon Demola Omotosho, Hon Biodun Adedoja, Hon Akinloye, Hon Folake Olunloyo Oshinowo, among others.