How Obasanjo Allegedly Deceived AD Governors Ahead of the 2003 Elections – Former Ogun Governor Olusegun Osoba Reveals Behind-the-Scenes Political Drama

How Obasanjo Allegedly Deceived AD Governors Ahead of the 2003 Elections – Former Ogun Governor Olusegun Osoba Reveals Behind-the-Scenes Political Drama

How Obasanjo Allegedly Deceived AD Governors in 2003 – Osoba's Explosive Revelations

Former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba has revealed how ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo allegedly persuaded Alliance for Democracy (AD) governors with promises of restructuring and political reforms before the 2003 elections. Read the full story.

How Obasanjo Allegedly Deceived AD Governors Ahead of the 2003 Elections – Former Ogun Governor Olusegun Osoba Speaks Out

Nigeria's political history is filled with alliances, negotiations, betrayals and strategic calculations that have shaped the country's democratic journey. One of the most controversial chapters remains the events leading to the 2003 general elections, when President Olusegun Obasanjo secured a second term despite stiff political opposition.

More than two decades later, former Ogun State Governor Chief Olusegun Osoba has provided an insider's account of those events, alleging that former President Olusegun Obasanjo convinced the Alliance for Democracy (AD) governors and Afenifere leaders with promises that ultimately went unfulfilled.

The revelations, contained in Osoba's memoir, revisit one of Nigeria's most significant political realignments and offer fresh insight into how negotiations, trust and political strategy influenced the country's democratic development.

Obasanjo's Search for Political Support

According to Osoba, the turning point came shortly after President Obasanjo survived an impeachment plot during his first term in office.

Rather than retreat politically, Osoba claimed the president launched an aggressive campaign to strengthen his political base ahead of the 2003 elections.

One of his major targets was the Alliance for Democracy (AD), the dominant political party in the South-West at the time.

Osoba recalled that Obasanjo invited all six AD governors to a private meeting after attending a convocation ceremony at the University of Lagos.

The meeting reportedly took place at Dodan Barracks in Lagos.

Present were the six AD governors, while Lagos State Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu coordinated the meeting arrangements.

According to Osoba, only the then Director of the State Security Service (SSS), Colonel Kayode Are, accompanied the President.

Obasanjo's Appeal to the AD Governors

During the closed-door meeting, Obasanjo reportedly requested cooperation from the governors.

He allegedly explained that Nigeria was facing serious political challenges and believed collaboration between his administration and the AD-controlled states would help preserve national stability.

However, Osoba said the governors made it clear that they could not independently enter such an agreement.

They insisted that Afenifere—the influential Yoruba socio-political organisation—and the leadership of the Alliance for Democracy had to be consulted before any decision could be reached.

That position eventually led to further negotiations involving senior Yoruba leaders.

Afenifere's Conditions for Supporting Obasanjo

Following internal consultations, Afenifere leaders reportedly met Obasanjo at his residence in Ota, Ogun State.

The delegation included respected political figures tasked with presenting conditions that would justify the AD's support for Obasanjo's re-election bid.

According to Osoba, the demands reflected long-standing constitutional and governance concerns.

Among the key requests were:

Restructuring Nigeria's federal system.

Greater devolution of powers to the states.

Fiscal federalism.

A credible national population census.

Merit-based appointments across federal institutions.

Electoral reforms.

Stronger respect for constitutional federalism.

These proposals were intended to address what many believed were structural weaknesses within Nigeria's political system.

Promises That Won Their Confidence

Osoba claimed Obasanjo responded positively to virtually every proposal.

According to him, the President assured the delegation that restructuring and constitutional reforms would receive serious attention during his second term.

He reportedly explained that his administration had already begun promoting meritocracy through the privatisation of government-owned enterprises.

Obasanjo also reportedly assured the leaders that Nigeria would conduct a transparent census supported by satellite mapping technology to minimise manipulation.

Regarding fiscal federalism, Osoba said the President promised to respect court decisions affecting state governments and improve relations between Abuja and the states.

Those assurances reportedly convinced many within the AD leadership that genuine reforms were finally possible.

Why the Alliance for Democracy Backed Obasanjo

Osoba explained that following the meeting, many senior Afenifere leaders believed Obasanjo had genuinely embraced the constitutional reforms they had advocated for years.

Even respected elder statesman Chief Ayo Adebanjo reportedly expressed optimism after the discussions.

As a result, the Alliance for Democracy decided not to field a presidential candidate against Obasanjo during the 2003 election.

Instead, the party chose to support his bid for a second term.

According to Osoba, that decision would later become one of the biggest political regrets for many within the party.

"We Were Fooled"

Perhaps the strongest statement in Osoba's account was his claim that the promises never materialised.

He alleged that after securing re-election, Obasanjo abandoned many of the commitments made during the negotiations.

Osoba wrote that the former President simply told the delegation what they wanted to hear in order to gain political support.

According to him, expectations of restructuring, fiscal federalism and broader constitutional reforms were largely left unmet.

These claims remain Osoba's personal recollection of events and contribute to ongoing debates about the political history of the Fourth Republic.

Traditional Rulers Also Encouraged Support

One remarkable aspect of Osoba's account is the role played by respected Yoruba monarchs.

He revealed that several traditional rulers encouraged him to cooperate with Obasanjo for what they believed was the greater good of Nigeria.

Among those mentioned were:

The late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade.

The late Alake of Egbaland, Oba Oyebade Lipede.

The late Oba of Lagos, Oba Adeyinka Oyekan.

The late Ataoja of Osogbo.

The Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona.

Their central argument, according to Osoba, was that Nigeria desperately needed a successful civilian-to-civilian transfer of power to consolidate democracy after years of military rule.

Many believed national stability should take precedence over political disagreements.

The Awujale's Candid Warning

Among all the interventions, Osoba described his conversations with the Awujale of Ijebuland as particularly memorable.

The respected monarch reportedly admitted that he personally had reservations about Obasanjo but believed national interest demanded compromise.

In one meeting, the Awujale allegedly told Obasanjo directly that he no longer trusted his promises.

Rather than react angrily, Obasanjo reportedly laughed off the comment.

Despite his concerns, the monarch still encouraged reconciliation between the President and the Ogun State governor to strengthen Nigeria's democracy.

A Frank Meeting Between Two Egba Leaders

The Awujale later arranged a private meeting between Obasanjo and Osoba at the Presidential Villa.

During the discussion, Obasanjo allegedly accused Osoba of distancing himself from the Presidency.

He suggested that Ogun State's relationship with the Federal Government had suffered because the governor rarely approached him for assistance.

Osoba disagreed.

He insisted their differences were ideological rather than personal.

He also argued that state governors should not need personal relationships with the President before receiving federal support.

According to Osoba, governance should never depend on political loyalty.

Criticism of Federal Allocations

Osoba further claimed he deliberately avoided seeking certain extra-budgetary allocations from Abuja because of concerns about corruption.

He alleged that some federal officials demanded unofficial percentages before releasing funds to states.

Although these allegations remain part of his memoir, they reflect longstanding public debates surrounding transparency and accountability in Nigeria's governance.

A Warning Before the Elections

Another dramatic revelation involved former Oyo State Governor Dr Omololu Olunloyo.

According to Osoba, Olunloyo privately warned him that security agencies were allegedly monitoring both him and former Oyo State Governor Lam Adesina.

The warning encouraged caution during negotiations with the Presidency.

Nevertheless, Osoba maintained that his ultimate decision to support Obasanjo was motivated by a desire to preserve Nigeria's democracy and ensure another peaceful civilian administration.

Why These Revelations Still Matter Today

Although the events occurred more than twenty years ago, the issues discussed remain highly relevant.

Many of the constitutional reforms reportedly requested by Afenifere—including restructuring, fiscal federalism, state autonomy and devolution of powers—continue to dominate Nigeria's political conversations today.

Successive administrations have faced similar demands from various political groups, civil society organisations and constitutional experts.

Osoba's account therefore serves not only as a political memoir but also as a historical reflection on opportunities many believe were missed.

Lessons from the 2003 Political Alliance

The story offers several important lessons:

Political promises influence elections.

Negotiations often determine electoral alliances more than public campaigns.

Trust remains central to politics.

Political agreements depend heavily on confidence between negotiating parties.

Democracy requires compromise.

Many leaders supported Obasanjo despite reservations because they prioritised democratic continuity.

History shapes present debates.

Current conversations about restructuring and constitutional reform have deep historical roots stretching back decades.

Reactions Continue to Divide Opinion

Osoba's revelations are likely to generate differing opinions among Nigerians.

Supporters of the former governor may see his account as confirmation of longstanding political frustrations.

Others may argue that governing Nigeria's diverse federation proved more complicated than campaign negotiations suggested.

Because these events are based largely on Osoba's memoir, readers may interpret the claims differently depending on their political perspectives.

Nevertheless, the memoir contributes valuable historical context to understanding Nigeria's evolving democracy.

Former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba has provided one of the most detailed insider accounts of the political negotiations that preceded Nigeria's 2003 presidential election.

His recollections suggest that expectations of restructuring, fiscal federalism and constitutional reforms played a significant role in securing support from the Alliance for Democracy and Afenifere.

Whether viewed as political strategy, broken promises or simply the realities of governance, the account offers important insights into one of the defining moments of Nigeria's Fourth Republic.

As debates over restructuring, constitutional reform and federalism continue, Osoba's revelations remind Nigerians that many of today's political conversations have deep historical foundations.

(FAQs)

Who is Olusegun Osoba?

Olusegun Osoba is a veteran journalist and former Governor of Ogun State who served under the Alliance for Democracy (AD).

What did Osoba accuse Obasanjo of?

He alleged that Obasanjo secured the support of AD governors and Afenifere leaders with promises of restructuring, fiscal federalism and constitutional reforms that were not fulfilled after the 2003 election.

Why did AD support Obasanjo in 2003?

According to Osoba, the party believed Obasanjo was committed to implementing major constitutional and governance reforms during his second term.

Are these claims officially verified?

The claims are based on Osoba's memoir and represent his personal account of political events surrounding the 2003 elections.

>>>> What do you think about Chief Olusegun Osoba's revelations? Do you believe political promises made before elections should be legally binding, or are they simply part of political negotiations?

Share your thoughts in the comments below. If you found this article informative, please share it with friends and family, and follow MyInfoJet for more in-depth political analysis, breaking news, exclusive interviews and premium SEO news content.

Olusegun Osoba, Olusegun Obasanjo, AD governors, Afenifere, 2003 election, Nigeria politics, restructuring Nigeria, fiscal federalism, Bola Tinubu, Fourth Republic, Nigerian democracy, political history.