The dust raised by two co-authors of a book on Obasanjo’s failed third-term agenda, is yet to settle, as a former governor of Rivers State, Sir (Dr) Peter Odili, is in court, to seek justice that will clear his name concerning allegations made against him by the two co-authors, that he allegedly funded the campaign for the third-term bid of former President Olusegun Obasanjo with his then Bauchi State counterpart, Adamu Muazu.
In their book, “Too Good To Die: Third Term And the Myth Of The Indispensable Man In Africa,” the two co-authors, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu and Ms. Ayisha Osori, alleged that Odili and his then Bauchi State counterpart, Adamu Muazu, allegedly raised funds for a campaign to keep former President Olusegun Obasanjo in office, beyond his constitutionally allowed two tenures.
Odili’s counsel, Barr. Ayodeji Adedipe, at the last court sitting in a State High Court in Port -Harcourt on the matter, made an application for an interlocutory injunction to restrain the co-authors of the book from further sale of copies of the book.
A Port-Harcourt High Court will rule on that application by Odili’s counsel today.
Dr. Odili said through his counsel that the contents of the book tarnished his image and brought him into public ridicule as he also said that he is demanding N1bilion as damages and a public apology from the co-authors of the book.
The two authors said in parts of their book, that: “When all the cost elements, including the public relations campaigns, additional incentives, the work of the JCCR (Joint Committee on Constitutional Review of the National Assembly) and constitutional conference as well as inevitable incentives to the security services, are added to the inducements proposed for legislators, it seems almost certain that the budget for the third term (agenda) (of former President Olusegun Obasanjo) was in excess of $500million or half a billion dollars. None of this money was lawfully appropriated, (so), they could only have been generated by theft, diversion or misappropriation of public resources”.
Meanwhile, thecounsel to Prof. Odinkalu and Ms. Osori, Barr. Idaye Opi, made an application at the last court sitting in early February for an extension of time for him to file his statement of defence.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo came into office as an elected President in 1999 and left office after his second term in 2007, amidst allegations that he wanted to go for a third term.
