How Buhari Torpedoed Obasanjo’s Power Extension Plan – Explosive Claims By Okechukwu

Former Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Osita Okechukwu, has revealed how the late former President Muhammadu Buhari played a decisive role in stopping ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s controversial third-term bid.

In a personally signed statement, the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain recounted how Buhari held strategic meetings with leaders and members of the National Assembly at the time, ensuring that the plan did not succeed.

According to Okechukwu, Buhari’s influence convinced then Senate President Ken Nnamani and House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Masari to value and uphold the will of the majority of Nigerians—effectively preventing the emergence of a one-party state despite alleged offers of ₦50 million to each lawmaker.

He wrote in part:

“During the 1999–2007 era, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, as President, nearly derailed our budding democracy. I recall vividly how, in 2006, when news broke of Obasanjo’s alleged third-term plot, Buhari immediately rose to the occasion.

Through steadfast opposition and strategic engagement with National Assembly members, he ensured the plan collapsed. He also reinforced Ken Nnamani and Aminu Masari’s resolve by reminding them of the overwhelming support from Nigerians.

This marked the death knell of a one-party state, despite the alleged ₦50 million inducement for each lawmaker. It was a masterclass in political resistance and a decisive move that preserved our democracy.”