Orji Kalu: Obasanjo Broke One-Term Agreement, Refused to Hand Over to Babangida
By Trek Africa Newspaper
Former Abia State Governor and Senator, Orji Uzor Kalu, has alleged that former President Olusegun Obasanjo reneged on an agreement to serve only one four-year term and hand over power to former military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, in 2003.
Kalu made the disclosure during an appearance on Arise Television, explaining that the alleged agreement was reached among himself, Babangida and Obasanjo before they supported Obasanjo’s emergence as Nigeria’s president in 1999.
According to the senator, his relationship with Obasanjo deteriorated because the former president failed to honour several political understandings they had reached.
He said:
“I had a very good relationship with President Obasanjo, and it went sour. And it didn’t go sour because I wanted what I wanted to have as a person. It’s because I wanted something for all of us Nigerians.
“Because most of the things we discussed, he didn’t do. We discussed that he would be president for four years. We discussed that he would only do four years and leave, and another person would take over. We helped him a lot when he came out of prison. We maintained our support to make sure that he succeeded.”
Why Obasanjo Was Expected to Serve One Term
Kalu explained that the arrangement was for Obasanjo to serve from 1999 to 2003 before handing over to another political bloc, with the understanding that power would subsequently return to the North.
He said Obasanjo’s emergence was partly intended to appease the South-West following the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election and the death of its presumed winner, Chief MKO Abiola.
The former governor maintained that the agreement was also connected to the broader understanding of power rotation among Nigeria’s political blocs.
Kalu Speaks on Alleged Vice-Presidential Offer
Kalu also addressed reports suggesting that Babangida had considered him for the position of vice president under the proposed political arrangement.
However, he said he could not confirm whether such an offer had been discussed.
He stated:
“Whether he had given IBB to make me vice president, I don’t know. Man, I never thought about that. But the one you’re certain about is what I was certain about,” he added.
Reflecting on the political disagreement, Kalu said he was much younger at the time but had since grown older and become more conscious of the importance of honouring political agreements.
His account presents his personal recollection of the political discussions preceding the 1999 presidential election and the alleged understanding concerning the 2003 transition.
