‘Obasanjo agreed to serve one term, but…’

Politics Spice Special Features Education Sex & Relationship Interview Columns Opinion Advertise with us ‘Obasanjo agreed to serve one term, but…’ South News November 11, 2026 12:02 am Former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Photo: The Cable

The Senator representing Abia North, Orji Kalu, has said former President Olusegun Obasanjo agreed to serve one term in 1999 before handing over to the North.

Kalu made this revelation on Monday, during an appearance on Arise PrimeTime, the flagship evening current affairs programme of Arise News Television.

Kalu’s account of an alleged political understanding involving Obasanjo and former military President Ibrahim Babangida ahead of the 1999 presidential election came up during the interview.

Responding to questions about why his once cordial relationship with Obasanjo eventually collapsed, Kalu disclosed that their disagreement was rooted partly in what he described as “an agreement that Obasanjo would serve only one four-year term before power returns to the North”.

Kalu explained that the understanding was reached during a meeting involving himself, Obasanjo and Babangida at Obasanjo’s residence in Ota, Ogun State, explaining that the arrangement was intended to accommodate the political circumstances surrounding the emergence of Obasanjo in 1999, following the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

He maintained that the agreement was for Obasanjo to complete one term and hand over to another political leader from the North, allowing the country’s power rotation arrangement to continue.

Asked specifically about reports that Babangida was expected to succeed Obasanjo in 2003, with Kalu potentially becoming his running mate, the senator said he could not confirm the vice-presidential arrangement but stood by the agreement concerning Obasanjo’s tenure.

“Well, I cannot be certain about the vice presidency, but I can tell you, yes, this was our discussion in Ota.

That he would leave, he would leave after four years and give back to the North,” he disclosed.

Kalu identified an individual he described as Obasanjo’s aide from Benue State, named Adobeye in the interview, as being present during the discussion.

He said, “What we discussed and there were people there, like Adobeye from Benue State, he was sitting down there where all of us, me, Ibrahim Babangida and President Obasanjo agreed.”

Kalu said the disagreement over the alleged arrangement was among the issues that eventually damaged his relationship with the former President.

The senator maintained that his opposition to Obasanjo was not driven by personal ambition but by his disagreement with what he considered “a departure from their political understanding and constitutional principles”.

Sunday Nwakanma is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over 25 years of professional experience in reporting. He is based in Abia State and has worked across local, regional, and national newspapers, covering a wide range of public affairs issues. Sunday’s work reflects extensive newsroom experience, multiple professional recognitions, and a strong commitment to press freedom and responsible journalism.

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