By Our Reporter
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo reportedly ordered veteran journalist and THISDAY Managing Director, Eniola Bello, out of his office during a heated exchange over an essay on the controversial third term agenda contained in Bello’s newly published two-volume collection.
Bello recounted the encounter in his THISDAY column of July 15, ahead of the July 23 launch of his 900-page essay collection, SHADOWS: Protest Essays on Africa’s Most Consequential Country (1999–2023), published by Cable Books.
According to Bello, the incident occurred when he visited Obasanjo at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, Ogun State, to present the former president with copies of the books.
The collection chronicles Nigeria’s political and democratic journey between 1999 and 2023, examining issues such as electoral malpractice, godfatherism, internal party democracy, ethnic politics, elite hypocrisy, religion in politics and the influence of money on governance.
Bello said Obasanjo calmly flipped through both volumes before stopping at an essay in Volume Two titled “Burying the Third Term Bogey.” After reading portions of the piece, the former president’s mood reportedly changed dramatically.
“You wrote here the evidence is touchable. So, show me the evidence of how I asked for a third term,” Obasanjo reportedly said as he flung the book onto a table.
Bello said he immediately clarified that he never accused Obasanjo of personally seeking a third term.
“I didn’t write that you asked for a third term,” Bello responded.
Obasanjo, however, insisted that the essay linked him to the controversial constitutional amendment campaign.
“But you mentioned my name as having a third term agenda,” the former president reportedly replied.
Bello defended the essay, arguing that it was impossible to discuss the third term controversy without mentioning Obasanjo, given that the campaign revolved around his administration and was driven by some of his political allies.
The exchange soon escalated, with Obasanjo reportedly losing his temper and ordering the journalist out.
“I didn’t ask for a third term. If I wanted a third term, I would have gotten it. If I could travel round the world to ask for debt forgiveness and got it, was it a third term I wouldn’t have been able to get if I wanted it?
“Are you saying I do not understand English? You do not come to my house to insult me. Get out of here,” Bello quoted the former president as saying.
According to the journalist, one of the visitors waiting to see Obasanjo later remarked that he should not have challenged the former president while he was visibly upset.
Bello explained that the essay which sparked the confrontation was originally written during the third term controversy to counter claims by former Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Chairman, Onyema Ugochukwu, who had argued that the alleged third term agenda was merely a media fabrication.
In the essay, Bello maintained that there was substantial political evidence suggesting that the campaign existed, citing attempts to introduce a three four-year term proposal during constitutional review, endorsements by some PDP leaders and public support from governors, including Chimaroke Nnamani, Peter Odili and Segun Agagu.
Obasanjo served as Nigeria’s civilian president from 1999 to 2007. The controversy over the failed third term bid remains one of the defining political debates of his administration.
