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We should have gone for Obasanjo’s impeachment after defeating third term
–Hon Francis Amadiegwu

•        Each pro-third term legislator received N50 million
•        Nuhu Ribadu’s hands  are not clean - only prosecuted Obasanjo’s enemies

Remember him?  Hon. Francis Amadiegwu was a former member of the Nigerian House of
Representatives between 2003 to 2007. He represented Okigwe South federal constituency
in Imo State and was one of the outspoken legislators who fought and defeated Former
President Obasanjo’s infamous third term agenda. Hon. Amadiegwu was the deputy
chairman of the House Committee on Information and member of various committees of the
house. He Left PDP in 2006 in protest due to its hijack by Obasanjo and ran for Okigwe
senatorial seat under the platform of the Action Congress (AC) but was rigged out.

In this exclusive interview with African Examiner's editors Oludare S. Fase and Taiye Olayemi
in Maryland, USA,  the former Federal lawmaker speaks on how Obasajo’s third  term bid
crashed despite billions of naira that was  spent on the project, and also how he (Obasanjo)
used the EFCC under the former chairman Nuhu Ribadu to hunt down  those against  the
third term and other political ‘enemies’.

Excepts

African Examiner: How did you guys defeat Obasanjo’s third term agenda?

Hon. Amadiegwu : It was very easy to defeat the third term agenda because some of us in
the house and the senate made up our mind to fight the battle. In Imo state, we have ten
members of the House of Representatives only three of us fought against it.  Myself, Uche
Onyeagocha and Emeka Ihedioha, the current chief whip, we fought against it and we
succeeded because the constitution made it easy for us.

The constitution stipulates that in order for it to be amended there must be a vote in support
of such amendment, supported by 2/3 members of the House and 2/3 members of the
senate. Not just 2/3 of members present but 2/3 of the entire membership.  We know if we
ensure that they don’t have the 2/3, the constitution amendment would fail. If it was a simple
majority, we wouldn’t have succeeded. The huge money involved kept more people on their
side. But we ensure we keep 121 members on our side, meaning that they will be short of
240 members to get the 2/3 needed.

We were led in that battle by Sen. Uche Chukwumerije. We went to all the major embassies in
Nigeria. We went to major traditional rulers in Nigeria, they supported our plan but were too
afraid for the most part to come out and identified with us. We also went to all the major
media houses in Lagos; we met with various NGOs and civil rights group, and galvanized the
movement. It was very easy because a lot of Nigerians were of the state of mind that Nigerian
political space should be opened. We must have transition from one civilian to another, and
the only way we could ensure that is to make sure the third term fail.

We believe that if we succeed, it will be a last battle for tenure elongation, even by any other
president after Obasanjo. I know the former INEC chairman Maurice Iwu,  my kinsman,  has
been taking credits for being responsible for successfully transiting Nigeria from one civilian
regime to another for the first time. He was one of the latitudes of the president, and he could
not have been able to stop the president, it was us that made the successful transition
possible.

Huge amount of money was involved in the third term agenda still the project
failed, why is this so?

Hon. Amadiegwu: They could not succeed because most of the people Obasanjo sent to
distribute money stole them. Most of the money did not get to where they were supposed to
go to. The N50 million,  I was referring to earlier on was a drop compare to the entire money
they spent. Anyway that N50 million was the first installment of what was supposed to be
N100 million naira, because Obasanjo did not trust legislators, he decided that it was going
to be N50 million before and N50 million after the vote. The N50 million was shared in the
governors lodge of the legislators, and in the case of governors who were not in support of
the agenda,  the money was shared in the lodge of a minister or a prominent politician from
that state.  A lot of the leaders of the pro-third term group, there is no space to mention
names, held on to the money, and the money did not get to where they supposed to get to,
they had several public hearings and billions of naira was approved for the project, and
these men kept the money and that was why they did not get result.

Secondly, Obasanjo is a general, he has never lost a battle, so he took us for granted, and
was so sure that if he spent certain amount of money, no Nigerian would be able to resist it.
And he had only one plan, he did not have plan B. He did not know his foot soldiers would
steal the money.

And like I said some of us who fought against the third term bid were idealists. In my own
case, no amount of money offered would have gotten me to change my mind. I did not do it
because of Atiku, I did not do it because of Buhari or anybody. I did it because I inherently
believe that it is not good to change the constitution because of Obasanjo. What is important
is the institution, if Obasanjo did a good job, it was because he had the opportunity, if we
give opportunity to another person he might do a good job as well.  After we defeated the
third term, we should have gone for his impeachment, because he was very unpopular then,
but we did not, then, as a general he fought us back by ensuring that some us did not return.

What is your view of the anti-corruption crusade in Nigeria then and now?

Hon. Amadiegwu : The concept of the EFCC is a very good one that is intended to put
Nigeria on a progressive path and bring it to the comity of nations of which we are yet to
belong to. When I was in the house, I was involved in the bill that established the EFCC as
well as the amendment bill.

Unfortunately, the man that was in charge of EFCC,  Nuhu Ribadu then only investigated and
prosecuted sometimes over zealously those he perceived as Obasanjo’s enemies, and those
he perceived as their friends he cozy up with them, and look the other way. EFCC was used
as instrument to hunt down enemies of Obasanjo and those against the third term agenda.

For example when they were paying N50 million naira to those legislators both in Senate and
the House, and this is a fact, some Nigerians are not sure it happened, but I’m telling you it
happened.  Myself, Hon Uche Onyeagocha, and some members of our group, called EFCC
and told them that these guys are in some particular banks and they are collecting N50
million naira for each of the pro term legislators and you guys should do something about it.  
Ribadu has no choice but to do what he was doing, to stand in the way of third term, or
exposed those distributing the money would amount to standing in front of a moving train.

Most Nigerians don’t have confidence in EFCC because of how it was handled in the past.
For example, Ribadu was the person in charge of receiving the property that were forfeited
by the victims of EFCC investigations, and sold under the control of EFCC. Ribadu decided
the prices and those who bided and those who bought the building and we feel that he
enriched himself so enormously.  When he was investigated and was discovered that he has
buildings in Dubai and other parts of the world and when it was discovered that he owns a
multi million naira mansion in Abuja he claimed that it was a gift from his in-law. If it was a gift,
did he report it as income and how much tax did he pay on it?  What was the source of the
money his father in law used in buying the building? Being a public office holder was he
supposed to receive that type of gift?  I think Ribadu’s hands are not clean.

I am very ashamed that people are drumming up his name as a potential candidate for
president, President of which country? Definitely not the country of which I am one of the
citizens, definitely he cannot be my president. I believe he is corrupt and should be
investigated.

What about the current EFCC?

Hon. Amadiegwu:  Mrs Waziri is doing her best, we should give her all the support. The
president should stay out of the way, and let her do the job. But unfortunately, I don’t think
that is the case, EFCC right now is pretty much the parastatal of the executive. Where is the
independence?  Until we begin to realize that these investigative bodies like FBI must be
independent of the executive, as long as they are controlled by the executive, they will
continue to be doing the biddings of the president, nobody wants to lose their job. So they
will do things that will impress the president to keep their job. Until we have that, Nigerians
are wasting their time looking forward to effective and efficient EFCC.
Former member of the Nigerian House of Representatives;  Hon. Francis Amadiegwu
Comments (7)

Cy Uka Anyanwu,Texas
I am proud of Hon. Francis Amadiegwu. The fight against corruption has to be concerted
and sustained. In this fight, the good people are in the minority. The majority of the
society is stymied in corruption.

Michael, Abuja
I have consistently maintained that Obasanjo is one of the most corrupt leaders in
Nigeria, how can he attempt to bribe 240 members with N100 million, with N50 million
already given as part payment, so that they can support the third term. It is a shame that
he is a free man now. All those who worked with him who are not parading themselves as
puritans eg Ribadu, ElRufai, Fani should all be in jail, shame!!!!

Ndubuisi-Christian Samuel, Abuja
Why has it taken Amadiegwu so long to talk. Nigeria I believe will get better one day. I
believe in a new Nigeria. OBJ and IBB for all I care are in the same cadre of corrupt
retired generals and politicians. It is a shame that they are walking the street of Nigeria
today. They should be investigated and be brought to book.

Mele Waruma, Maiduguri
What a wonderful revelation by Hon. Amadiegwu. Pls give us more, though belated.
Better late than never. Justice Ayoola & Mrs Waziri must investigate all these revelations,
including EFCC & ICPC. A stitch in time saves nine.

OZ, Abuja
Hon.  Amadiegwu was indeed one of the few upright members of that National Assembly.
Unfortunately we don't have people like him over there anymore.

Chief Joshua,  Miami, Florida
All retired Nigerian military officers must be banned from POLITICS.

James, Lagos
I doff my hat for the Honourable.  A lot of my friends and I remember his steadfastness
and the brutality he suffered during that period. I heard that  the Hon is in Abuja, is he
going to run for any office? If you do, we are going to organze an army of half a million
youths. Run for Imo governor and rescue us from Ohakm's misrule. I'll be checking you
up on this site. My colleague in the office saw it and told me about it. Please continue to
speak up. Remember the old saying,evil thrives when men of good faith sit idly by and
just watch. Thanks.