Speaking on the occasion of the President’s controversial 74th birthday, the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, made the shocking claim that Tinubu’s Third Term might become a reality because Nigerians are so “impressed” by the current economic hardship that they will “beg” for a constitutional review. Nigeria has seen this movie before, and we know exactly how it ends. This is a funny drama straight out of the 2006 playbook. The “goons” of the current administration have started testing the waters of public opinion.
The monarch’s attempt to paint a picture of economic prosperity, citing a rise in foreign reserves to $50 billion, feels like a cruel joke to the millions of Nigerians currently struggling with 500% fuel price increases and a cost of living that has pushed the middle class into poverty.
How the Scope Works
The strategy is simple and transparent. Instead of the President saying it himself, they use a monarch or a “stakeholder” to suggest that the people want it. They cite “structural reforms” and “local government autonomy” as reasons why the eight-year limit is too short for a “genius” to finish his work. They mention a “constitutional amendment” casually, hoping to normalize the idea before the 2027 elections even arrive.
Obasanjo Tried and Failed—You Will Also Fail
The ghost of the 2006 Third Term Agenda looms large over Aso Rock. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, at the height of his power, tried to manipulate the National Assembly to extend his stay. He failed because Nigerians, regardless of tribe or religion, stood together to say “Enough is Enough.”
If the current administration thinks they can “scope” the youth of 2026 with the same tired tactics, they are in for a rude awakening. You cannot ask people to “endure” hunger for two terms and then expect them to “beg” for a third. The “mathematical miracle” of the President’s age is confusing enough; we don’t need a mathematical miracle of constitutional terms to add to the chaos.
The Arrogance
This move by the Oluwo of Iwo isn’t just a personal opinion; it’s a coordinated “feel out” operation. By claiming that “Tinubu has demonstrated uncommon leadership,” the monarch is ignoring the “uncommon suffering” on the streets. The idea that Nigerians would beg for a leader to stay longer while the country is grappling with an unpopular “Iran War” and skyrocketing inflation is the height of political delusion.
The scope cannot work for us. We are not a nation of “beggars” for tyranny. If the “Renewed Hope” agenda were truly working, the President wouldn’t need proxies to beg for more time; the results would speak for themselves. Instead, we see the same old pattern: deploy the “goons,” float the kite, and watch the nation’s reaction. Our reaction is simple: the 1999 Constitution is not a suggestion, it is the law.
