Nearly two decades after Nigeria’s controversial third-term debate, former House of Representatives Minority Leader Farouq Aliyu has offered a fresh account of the political battle, alleging that huge sums were offered to lawmakers to support the plan.
Aliyu claimed he turned down N250 million, while former House Speaker Aminu Masari rejected an alleged N400 million offer. He made the claims during an appearance on the ‘Naija Unfiltered’ podcast published on YouTube.
The former lawmaker said the offers were part of efforts to secure support for a constitutional amendment that could have allowed former President Olusegun Obasanjo to seek a third consecutive term.
Obasanjo served as president from 1999 to 2007. In May 2006, the National Assembly rejected proposed constitutional changes that would have paved the way for a third term. Obasanjo has repeatedly denied that he pursued such an extension.
Aliyu, however, maintained that the third-term agenda was genuine.
He recalled that Nuhu Ribadu, who was then chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, contacted him during the controversy. According to Aliyu, Ribadu asked him to travel to Abuja for a meeting with Obasanjo.
Aliyu said he initially declined but eventually agreed to meet the former president. During their discussion, he said he made it clear that he believed the proposed third term would fail.
He later alleged that Ribadu directed him to meet an unnamed person who offered him N250 million to support the agenda.
Aliyu said he rejected the money.
“Third term agenda was real. In fact, 250 million was given to me. I did not take it,” he said.
The former minority leader also claimed that Masari was offered N400 million but turned it down. He alleged that then Majority Leader Abdul Ningi was offered the same amount.
Aliyu further claimed that other lawmakers were offered at least N50 million to support the proposal.
He also credited former military Head of State Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume with playing prominent roles in efforts that stopped the proposed third term.
The constitutional amendment ultimately failed in the National Assembly in 2006.
Aliyu’s latest account adds another claim to the long-running debate over the controversial proposal. However, the alleged financial offers remain claims made by Aliyu, while Obasanjo has consistently rejected the assertion that he sought a third term.
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