Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday accepted Parliament’s rejection of a constitutional change that would have enabled him to stand for a third term in office, saying it was victory for democracy.
“For me and for all members of our party, the outcome is victory for democracy. Members were allowed to discuss freely and to act and vote according to the dictates of their conscience. That is democracy at work,” Obasanjo told the national executive committee of his ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The president said he had been wrongly linked with the plot to extend his tenure beyond 2007.
“Many derogatory remarks and statements and unfounded allegations have been made about me and my position on the so-called third term at the National Assembly and in the media, which are false, incorrect and uncalled for,” he said.
“Of course that is part of the burden of leadership. I was maligned, insulted and wrongly accused but I am where I am and what I am. I remain focused,” he said.
He urged party members to accept the outcome of the debate. The third term issue has deeply divided the PDP, which prides itself as the largest party in Africa, with Obasanjo’s deputy Atiku Abubakar leading the opposition against it.
“As a political party, we should accept the views of the National Assembly, even though the two chambers initially concluded differently,” he said, adding that the imperfections in the debate should be respected.
“In any argument or debate, there are bound to be elements of right or wrong, truth or truth. Only God is perfect,” he added.
Obasanjo said the party should put the issue behind it and plan for the 2007 elections.
“On the basis of the Constitution in hand, we must start to plan for the next elections,” he added.
The senate voted against the Bill on Tuesday while the lower house of Parliament withdrew it from consideration on Wednesday.
The constitutional amendment had been opposed by opposition parties, rights groups, organised labour and local and international community.
Under the 1999 Constitution, Obasanjo must step down in May 2007 after serving the constitutional limit of two four-year terms.
The retired general, elected in 1999 and re-elected in 2003 in polls allegedly marred by widespread fraud, has not publicly endorsed a successor nor stated any intention to stand for re-election. — AFP