Obasanjo Warns: A Single 6-Year Term Won’t Stop a President with Bad Intentions

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has voiced his concerns over the proposal to introduce a single 6-year term for Nigerian presidents, cautioning that this change won’t necessarily curb harmful actions by those in power.

In a recent meeting at his Abeokuta residence with six House of Representatives members who co-sponsored related bills, Obasanjo shared his belief that the real issue lies not in the duration of a president’s term but in the mentality and behavior of those who hold office.

Obasanjo argued that even within a single 6-year term, a president could still carry out harmful actions, potentially causing as much damage as they might within two 4-year terms. He emphasized that the proposed change wouldn’t address the underlying problem of governance in Nigeria.

“Look, if you give him (referring to any elected president) a period of a single term of six years, he can go ahead and still do the evil he would have done in two terms of four years (each),” Obasanjo said. “The only difference is that he would have done that within the period of six years and not four years, and that is if he is not reelected for another four years.”

Obasanjo stressed the need for comprehensive reforms in the civil service, the three branches of government, and the private sector. He also called for a fundamental shift in the attitudes of government officials, warning that without these changes, Nigeria could face dire consequences.

“To me, this is not our problem; our main problem is ourselves, and until we take care of ourselves,” he added. “If we like, let us adopt a single term of six years or one term of four years among others with the same mentality and same way of doing things; nothing will change.”

Obasanjo’s remarks highlight the importance of focusing on the mindset and actions of leaders rather than merely altering the structure of their tenure.