Senate Chief Whip, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, Thursday, revealed that late South African leader, Nelson Mandela pressured former president Olusegun Obasanjo to drop his third term presidential bid, Igbere TV reports.

He said the late Mandela played a key role which saw Obasanjo drop the idea of amending the Nigerian Constitution to enable him contest for a third term.

“I recall my personal interactions with him (Mandela) especially during our national struggle to force President Olusegun Obasanjo to drop his plan to amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and secure an extension of his tenure of office.

“Disturbed by the details, Mandela placed a call to President Olusegun Obasanjo and told him in clear terms that whatever his plans were, it was neither desirable for Africa”, he said.

“That intervention, proved strategic to the leadership question in Nigeria at the time leading to elections in 2007.”

Igbere TV reports that Senator Kalu made the revelation while giving a speech on “The Mandela I Know”, at the 10th commemoration of “Nelson Mandela Day”, in Abuja.

The event which was organized by the South African High Commission in Nigeria, held at the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA).

Our correspondent who covered the event reports that the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Bobby Roet, Vice Chancellor of University of Abuja, Prof Abdul Rasheed Na-Allah and the Deputy Vice-chancellor, Prof C.B.I Alawa, were in attendance.

In his speech, the former Abia governor described the late Mandela as an outstanding champion of human freedom and liberty.

He said the late African leader was an anti-apartheid crusader who sacrificed the best years of his life to secure the emancipation of his people from the “degradation and humiliation of inferiority status.”

Kalu who revealed that Mandela was his mentor, said he was tutored and shaped into a responsible, industrious and disciplined man by the late foremost African leader, “who set a challenging example to other African leaders by retiring after a single term as South Africa's president.”

The Abia born politician also revealed that the late Mandela introduced him to the leadership of South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC), “with whom I have maintained a very robust relationship with.”

“Through him, I met with President Thabo Mbeki, who is now a dear friend and brother. I also met President Kgalema Motlanthe, former Secretary of ANC. And of course, I met President Jacob Zuma and Cyril Ramaphosa, who is now tasked with the responsibility of leading the great vision that Mandela had for South Africa.”

Igbere TV recalls that Senator Orji Kalu had few months ago, undertook a trip to South Africa where he visited three ex-Presidents, and also took part in the ANC campaign launch which saw the party winning the last presidential poll.

Recalling his withdrawal from the Senate Deputy Presidency race, the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain said he took the step following the decision of his party.

Senator Kalu said, “I stood down because having learnt from Mandela the dictates of party supremacy, it would amount to a betrayal of my learning to go against the party's consensus”, adding, “Mandela had once told me how he wanted Cyril to be his deputy, but the party leadership thought otherwise, a decision Mandela actually respected.”

On Nigeria, the Forbes-rated billionaire said the country “will fare better if politicians, irrespective of their party affiliations, respect party supremacy.”

“That way, we will be able to build a political culture that derives its powers from the party manifesto and programmes.”

Kalu decried the rate at which African leaders hold on to power, instead of emulating Nelson Mandela, saying “Africa today does not seem to appreciate the meaning that he (Mandela) brought to life on the continent.”

“Mandela opted for only a single term in office, he voluntarily opted out for a second tenure. Out of office, he became more powerful and significant as a global force than he was in office. With that, he demonstrated that one does not necessarily need an endless term of office to positively impact on his society or to remain relevant.”

Kalu added: “Africans have suffered so much under visionless and oppressive leadership that the people are looking forward to another Mandela to give them hope for tomorrow.”

He pledged to be guided “by those eternal principles that Mandela lived by and ultimately bequeathed on humanity”, while working for the peace and progress of Nigeria as senator of the Federal Republic.

“I pledge to work for the peaceful co-existence of all Nigerians irrespective of their tongue and colour. I make a pledge to work for the common good and greater unity of our country. After all, those are the tenets Mandela lived and died for. And they are the core values he taught everybody that had the fortune encounter with him”, Senator Orji Kalu added.

http://igberetvnews.com/831224/sen-orji-kalu-reveals-how-late-mandela-pressured-ex-president-obasanjo-to-drop-his-third-term-bid/

Trust me... NOBODY WOULD READ THIS SHII

thanta:
Trust me... NOBODY WOULD READ THIS SHII

Not everyone hates reading.

But you just did... Mr Nobody?

thanta:
Trust me... NOBODY WOULD READ THIS SHII

Bless you!

thesicilian:

Not everyone hates reading.

This guy has become a parrot

celeiyke:
This guy has become a parrot

It seems he's using his so called relationship with Nelson Mandela to try to advance his own political career.

Interesting. God bless Madiba

This guy has become a chipmunk. Let him be looking for Igbo presidency. Igbo people no go even vote for am

If not for Orji Uzor kalu mum, Obasanjo would have finished him up back then. But he has a powerful woman as a mother. That was his saving grace.

thesicilian:

It seems he's using his so called relationship with Nelson Mandela to try to advance his own political career.

Lol. Which Mandela? The one molded by Rochas

Orji Uzo Kalu (I used to like him) has sold his integrity to APC for morsel of bread.

The fear of Baba is the beginning of wisdom.

See how they are all running helkter skelterer

I mean helkter skelterer

OBJ baba. I keep saying it that it is either OBJ meant the very BEST for this country or he just wanted to remain in power as regards that second third term pursuit. He knows what he was up to sha.....

Note: Click on my signature for this beautiful ride. Car will be gone this weekend be the lucky owner. Call me and we will deal. Check my profile as well. Tokunbo mint sparkling peugeot 407. Sport ride for the great people.

Imagine obasanjo was able to amend the law allowing 3rd term??

Imagine buhari benefiting from the law for 3rd term rule

I wish mandela minded his business, by now buhari won't be president

lonelydora:
Orji Uzo Kalu (I used to like him) has sold his integrity to APC for morsel of bread.

His agro with Obasanjo, just like BAT no be today. Everything is not about APC

But if this guy was in PDP and he made the same assertion, you will praise him..

Hypocrisy is bad...

ok

See them... All the children of hate have avoided this post. Just one page so far

Take it or leave it, this is Africa & this is Nigeria. After all these long years of democracy trial in Nigeria, I think OBJ would have been the best option if he had stayed this long in office. He assembled the best, worked with the best and got the best of democratic results. I miss him as my president honestly.

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Hello Nairalanders how much is one of this slippers ?


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Obasanjo is a demon

Children of hate are with Obasanjo now

.

Thank God For Mandela. If OBJ Had Gone Ahead To Do That, We All Would Have Been Finish B4 2025. Buhari Will Contest Again, Lose And Steal The Mandate Through Corrupt INEC Chairman. This Time, Nigeria Would Have Been Fully Fulanised And Turned To A Caliphate. Lets Endure Buhari Till 2023. By Then, The Fulanis Will Know The Original Owners Of Nigeria.