According to Vanguard, Former Senate President Adolphus Wabara has disclosed that he turned down a bribe of N250 million meant to secure his support for the third-term agenda during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration. This revelation came during an episode of the YouTube interview series "Untold Stories with Adesuwa," released on Monday. When asked about the veracity of the claim, Wabara confirmed it, stating, "That's very correct."
The third-term agenda was a significant event in Nigeria’s democratic history, involving a proposed constitutional amendment to permit President Obasanjo to seek a third term in office. This period was marked by intense political maneuvering and controversy. Wabara's revelation sheds light on the extent of the efforts to secure support for the agenda, highlighting the substantial sum he was offered. He mentioned that the bribe, amounting to N250 million, was delivered to him in a G-Wagon at 1:20 a.m.
Further elaborating, Wabara expressed skepticism about rumors that other senators received N50 million each at the time. He emphasized his educational background as a crucial factor in his decision to reject the bribe and the third-term agenda. Wabara's stance against the amendment bill reflects the ethical dilemmas faced by lawmakers and the pressures exerted on them during pivotal moments in Nigeria’s political landscape.
Addressing the current state of affairs in the country, Wabara lamented that those in power have weaponized poverty to maintain control over the electorate. He criticized the lack of enabling environments to alleviate hunger, arguing that it is a deliberate tactic to ensure that the electorate remains dependent and easily manipulated. This commentary highlights ongoing issues within Nigerian democracy, where socio-economic challenges are exploited for political gain, undermining the democratic process and the welfare of the populace.
H said: : “Hunger misdirects, and my people say that when you are having leaves or whatever the goat eats, you are the person they will continue to follow. That is what is happening in our democracy today because of hunger. The elders and the politicians—those in government—are not creating the enabling environments to eschew hunger.
“It is a deliberate act to continue to make the electorate hungry so that they will continue to follow sheepishly. So, there will be stomach infrastructure before they start thinking whether we are being led aright.