Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has finally opened up on the third-term imbroglio that dogged the latter days of his government.

In 2007, report emerged that Obasanjo was allegedly scheming for a third term in office but the plot was thwarted by certain political actors.

His former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, and ex-Senate President Ken Nnamani had on several occasions also claimed that Obasanjo wanted to change the constitution in order to extend his term in office.

Speaking on the long-standing controversial issue, the former President distanced himself from the third term agenda .

Speaking during an interview on News Central which aired on Thursday, Obasanjo said he was never interested in a third term and the agenda was pushed by certain persons in government.

Obasanjo stated that if he had wanted a third term, he would have got it. He disclosed that the  third term speculation was the handiwork of some governors who were clandestinely working towards elongating their own terms in office.

According to Obasanjo, these governors believed that if he secured a third term, they would also benefit from an extended tenure.

His words: “If I had wanted a third term, I would have gotten it. I didn’t want a third term. I know some governors working for this, believing that if I, as president, got a third, they would also get it.”

Obasanjo revealed that getting debt relief for Nigeria was a far more challenging task than securing a third term. He proudly noted that his administration successfully obtained debt relief for the country, a feat that required diplomatic efforts with countries like France, England, Japan, and the United States.

Atiku Abubakar and Ken Nnamani have both claimed to have played instrumental roles in toppling Obasanjo’s alleged third-term bid.

Ahead of the 2023 presidential election, Atiku claimed that his connections within the National Assembly enabled him to block Obasanjo’s third-term agenda.

Obasanjo and Atiku served as Nigeria’s president and vice president from 1999 to 2007. However, their relationship went sour when Obasanjo chose not to support Atiku as his successor.

Meanwhile, Nnamani, stated that he had to give up his senatorial ambition to ensure Obasanjo’s third-term bid was defeated. He alleged that lawmakers were offered promises and cash incentives, but he remained committed to preventing the agenda, which ultimately led to his failure to secure re-election in 2007

Davido, the Afrobeats powerhouse, has electrified the fashion scene with his unforgettable runway appearance at the much-anticipated 2024 Lagos Fashion Week.

This five-day extravaganza, which kicked off on October 23, is not just a showcase of fashion; it’s a vibrant celebration of African creativity that includes panel discussions addressing the global economic landscape and innovative marketing strategies for aspiring African fashion entrepreneurs.

On a dazzling Thursday night, the spotlight shone brightly on Davido as he strutted down the runway for the renowned designer Ugo Monye, as captured in viral video.

Draped in an exquisite all-brown regalia fabric, Davido transformed the runway into a regal experience, embodying the essence of African royalty.

His outfit was a masterpiece, accentuated with striking red-plated beads that wrapped around his neck, a commanding staff in hand, and a beautifully crafted chocolate-colored cap that crowned his look.

Each element of his attire was meticulously chosen, reflecting not only style but also a deep respect for cultural heritage.

The crowd erupted in enthusiastic cheers, welcoming him as the music star glided down the runway with the grace and poise of regal lineage.

Social media erupted with praise, as fans and fashion enthusiasts alike shared their admiration, celebrating Davido’s unique blend of style and charisma.

His runway appearance marked a significant moment in Lagos Fashion Week, a testament to the burgeoning influence of African artists in the global fashion landscape.

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Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo has decried the size of debt being owned by the country, years after he left office in 2007.

Obasanjo recalled he left the nation with about $70 billion, including a $45 billion reserve and $25 billion in a designated “excess crude” account.

The former President spoke on Thursday in an exclusive interview with Kayode Akintemi of News Central Television.

Obasanjo, who lamented the poor quality of leadership in the country, said his government met a debt overhang of close to $36 billion but reduced it to about $3.5 to $3.6 billion before leaving office in 2007.

His words: “I came in 1999 and met $3.7 billion in the reserve. And I have told you, we were spending $3.5 billion to service the debts. That’s what we had.

“By the time we left eight years later, with debt relief, when I came in, we had a debt overhang of close to $36 billion. By the time I left, with the debt relief and clearing what we had to clear, the quantum of debt that I left was about $3.5 to $3.6 billion from over or around $36 billion.

“At the same time, the reserve that was $3.7 billion when I came in went to $45 billion. At the same time, we had what we called “Excess crude”, which is what is in excess of what we budget and what we actually sell the crude. Normally, we are conservative in budgeting, we call it “Excess crude”. So, we had in it about $25 billion. When you add that to the reserve, we are talking about $70 billion.

“Now, the point is that I left in 2007. Today between 2007 and 2024, all that amount of money has gone; all of it. Not only that, but all the money they made all that period had gone. And today, we owe more than we owe when we came to government in 1999.”

Former militant leader, Asari Dokubo, has lamented the alleged betrayal of the Ijaws and Niger Deltans by the Yorubas after supporting and voting massively for the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Dokubo, in a video making rounds online, apologized to the former Governor of Rivers State, Melford Okilo, and other leaders in the region for questioning their decision to work with the North.

Asari Dokubo stated that the Ijaws and Niger Deltans will no longer work with the Yorubas, noting they are betrayers.

He vowed that the people of the Niger Delta would henceforth only work with the northerners by forming an alliance with them.

He said, “I apologize to our fathers Melford Okilo and Prieye that they were not wrong for forming an alliance with the North, and as young men, we will now start same alliance with the North now.

“As from today, I will work! Work! to form alliance with the North and crush any other opposition, because for those who hate us, we do not mean anything to them. Whatever Ijaw people do does not mean anything to them.

“All over Ijaw land, we will spread the message that it is only northerners who can work with Ijaw people !…. We cannot work with Yoruba people they are betrayers !!!….. We risked our lives, voted and did everything and this is what we get ?”

Adedoyin Odunuga, the wife of popular gospel musician, Dare Melody, is dead.

Adedoyin reportedly died on Thursday morning.

Dare Melody’s management announced the news through an official statement on Thursday night.

“We mourn the demise of our Chairman, Evang. Dare Melody’s wife. It is with deep sadness that we inform you of the transition to the eternal rest of our beloved mother, wife, sister, and friend, Mrs. ADEDOYIN ODUNUGA, NEE: ODAGI).

“She died early this morning 24th of October 2024. You Will Forever Be In Our Hearts R.I.P.”

The bill, sponsored by Aliyu Missau, aimed to amend specific sections of the constitution by removing the term “personal” from wherever “Islamic law” is mentioned, thus broadening the scope of Sharia law within the legal framework.

The contentious constitutional amendment bill targeted sections 24, 262, 277, and 288 of the 1999 constitution.

Specifically, Section 262(1), which currently states that the Sharia Court of Appeal shall exercise appellate and supervisory jurisdiction in civil proceedings involving questions of Islamic personal law, would have been modified to expand its jurisdiction beyond personal matters.

Missau argued during the debate that the inclusion of the word “personal” limited the application of Islamic law, particularly affecting Islamic commercial laws.

By removing “personal,” Missau believed that Islamic law could have a broader application, aligning more closely with the comprehensive nature of Sharia, which covers various aspects of life beyond personal matters.

He said, “The 1999 constitution provided for personal Islamic law. The constitution did not envisage the dynamism and development that may come into the country.

“For instance, in 2003, the constitution did not foresee the advent of Jaiz Bank, which operates under commercial Islamic law.”

The lawmaker said the word “personal” should be removed to benefit Islamic commercial law and Islamic international law, among others.

During the debate, legislators were split along regional lines, with northerners supporting the bill while their southern counterparts kicked against it.

Opposing the bill, Solomon Bob from Rivers said the amendment would broaden the application of Islamic law beyond the “personal matters” envisaged by the framers of the constitution.

“The implication is that if the word ‘personal’ is removed, Islamic law would have broader implications. The word ‘personal’ was put there for a reason,” the lawmaker said.

AbdulHakeem Ado from Kano supported the bill, saying Islamic commercial law needs to be sustained.

Saidu Abdullahi from Niger state and Ahmed Satomi from Borno were among the lawmakers who spoke in favour of the bill.

Jonathan Gaza from Nasarawa, Ademorin Kuye from Lagos, and Awaji-Inombek Abiante from Rivers kicked against the proposed legislation.

Bamidele Salam from Osun strongly opposed the bill, saying issues of religion should be restricted to personal preference because Nigeria is a secular state.

He said, “As students of history, we all know the background of this particular section during the various constitutional assemblies of 1979, 1989, and 1999. The drafters of the constitution were highly sensitive to religion.

“At the 1979 constitutional assembly, this particular section was very contentious until the military intervened to halt further debate, stating that the application of Islamic law would be restricted to personal matters like estates.

“We must be careful with any changes to the constitution that could further widen divisions in Nigeria. In any case, the matters my colleague seeks to address are already covered by existing laws.”

The bill was rejected when it was put to a voice vote by Ben Kalu, the deputy speaker, who presided over the plenary.

Olusegun Obasanjo, a former President of Nigeria, has explained that the leadership deficit in the world, especially in Africa and particularly in Nigeria, is responsible for the situation the country has found itself in.

Obasanjo accused an unnamed Nigerian president of coming to office without a plan.

He said the President made a pronouncement on an issue that hadn’t been studied, arguing that it shows a lack of leadership quality.

The former President, who spoke on Thursday in an exclusive interview with Kayode Akintemi on News Central Television, stressed that leadership is something Nigeria should pay attention to.

Obasanjo said: “I will say, at this point in time, generally there’s a leadership deficit in the world. Otherwise, the situation we have found ourselves in should not be the position we are in. Unfortunately, in Africa, and in Nigeria in particular, we take two steps forward, one step sideways, and take two or three steps backward. That can’t take us far. Leadership is something we should pay attention to.

“What do you say of a Nigerian President who came to office without a plan? And he woke up and just said, ‘three-point plan.’ What are the three points? What are they going to achieve? Who are the people who have worked on it? Oh, you just come and open your mouth and make a pronouncement on something that hasn’t been studied.

“Let me again give you an example: when I was military Head of State, we decided to really be part of the frontline states to fight the last vestiges of colonialism and apartheid.

“And we were determined. So, as a result of our policy, pronouncements, and determination, we became known as members of the frontline states, even though we were a thousand kilometers from the frontline. And we decided that we must do what needed to be done. We worked with the frontline states.”

On Friday, Primate Elijah Ayodele, the Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, said President Bola Tinubu was wrongly advised over the reshuffling of his cabinet because Nigeria is getting harder daily.

Primate Ayodele said Tinubu can’t be applauded for his reshuffled cabinet because the ministers making Nigerians to cry are still in his administration.

In a statement by his Media Aide, Oluwatosin Osho, the clergyman insisted that the president relieved the wrong ministers of their duties.

The prophet mentioned that the just-concluded reshuffling will not have any positive impact until those who are supposed to be removed from the current administration are removed.

He explained that Nigerians will celebrate and applaud President Tinubu if some ministers are removed.

According to Ayodele: “The ministers that are supposed to be changed have not been changed; the ones changed cannot add any reasonable value. Some ministers who believed they are God need to be changed too.

“Nigerians cannot applaud Tinubu over these changes because those making people to cry are still in his cabinet. You will see that people in the country will celebrate when they change some of these people.

“The country is getting more difficult day in, day out. These changes are not in any way significant; Tinubu was advised wrongly on these ministers’ changes.‘’

Furthermore, Primate Ayodele frowned at the activities of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), noting that if the commission wants to be serious, every politician has to be arrested because all of them are guilty.

“If EFCC wants to be serious, every politician should be arrested because many of them didn’t have anything before they got into position, but when they got there, they became billionaires. The commission has a lot to do if they want to wash this country; otherwise it will still be the same thing,” he added.

Ex-Nigerian president, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is set to leave for Gaborone, Botswana, on Friday to lead the African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM) for the forthcoming general elections slated for October 30, 2024.

This confirmation comes from a statement released by his Special Adviser, Ikechukwu Eze.

Jonathan, esteemed for his dedication to promoting democratic processes in Africa, will head a diverse team comprising members from the African Union Permanent Representative Committee, Pan African Parliament (PAP), African Governance Platform, Election Management Bodies, independent election experts, and representatives from civil society organizations, including women and youth groups.

During his stay in Gaborone, the former president is scheduled to engage in consultations with various key stakeholders, including Botswana’s country leadership, political parties, civil society, media groups, and the diplomatic community.

His efforts will focus on fostering a credible, transparent, and peaceful electoral atmosphere before, during, and after the election day.

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Mahamat, highlighted in his letter to Jonathan that the former president’s “pan-African credentials and solid commitment to democracy and credible electoral processes in Africa” made him a prime candidate for leading such missions.

This year’s general election in Botswana marks the 13th since the nation gained independence in 1965, featuring the election of 61 Members of Parliament and 609 Local Council Seats.

For Jonathan, this mission represents the fifth time he has led AU election observation teams across Africa since 2015, with previous missions in Zambia, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.

Olusegun Obasanjo, a former President of Nigeria, has expressed concerns as regards how youths are trooping out of the country in their large numbers due to frustration and unemployment.

Obasanjo in an interview with News Central TV, claimed that Nigeria is loosing a lot of money by youths leaving the country.