Farouq Aliyu, former minority leader of the House of Representatives, says he rejected the N250 million offered to him to support the third-term agenda of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Aliyu spoke during the ‘Naija Unfiltered’ podcast, published
via YouTube on Friday.
The third term agenda was one of the most controversial
issues that characterised the administration of Obasanjo.
Obasanjo served as Nigerian president from 1999 to 2007.
In May 2006, the national assembly rejected a bill that
sought to amend Nigeria’s constitution, which would have allowed Obasanjo run
for a third successive term in office.
The former president has repeatedly denied that he sought a
third term in office.
In September 2025, Obasanjo said he never pursued such an
ambition and that if he had wanted a third term, he knew how to pursue it.
Speaking during the podcast, Aliyu said Obasanjo’s third
term agenda was real despite the ex-president’s denial.
Aliyu said during discussions about the third term agenda,
Nuhu Ribadu, who was the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, asked him to come to Abuja for a meeting with Obasanjo.
Aliyu said he initially rejected Ribadu’s request but later
accepted to meet with Obasanjo.
The former lawmaker said when he went to Abuja, he discussed
the third term agenda and insisted that the move would not be successful.
He added that he was offered N250 million by someone Ribadu
asked him to meet with.
Aliyu did not mention the name of the person during the
interview.
He added that Aminu Masari, who was the speaker of the lower
chamber at the time, rejected the sum of N400 million to support the third term
bid.
Aliyu said lawmakers were offered a minimum of N50 million
to support the agenda.
“Third term agenda was real. In fact, 250 million was given
to me. I did not take it,” he said.
“Masari, who was the speaker then, 400 million was offered.
He did not take it. Abdul Ningi, the majority leader, 400 million naira was
offered to him. He did not take it.
“N50 million was dashed to small fries. They paid minimum of
N50 million.”
The former minority leader said late Muhammadu Buhari,
former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, and George Akume, secretary to the
government of the federation, played prominent roles in thwarting the bid for a
third term.
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