THE THIRDTERM SAGA
On Tuesday, the 25th of April 2006,the national assembly of Nigeria began a new legislative section. This legislative section is expected to be the most important legislative section of this tenure. This legislative section is important, because part of the agenda is the review of the Nigerian constitution.
The present Nigerian constitution is a product of the military. A lot of inadequacies have been noticed in this constitution. This include the marginalisation of the Niger Delta region which is by far the highest contributor of resources to the Nigerian coffers;immunity to criminal prosecution for the president and governor; and the over centralized structure of the Nigerian State.
The constitution review committee of the national assembly have proposed some amendments to the constitution. This include the creation of one more states in the south-east geo-political zone, removal of the immunity of governors from prosecution, an increase of the share of the revenue allocated to the Niger Delta region from 13% to not less than 25%; and an ellongation of the tenure of the president from the current 2 terms of 4 years each to 3 terms of 4 years each.
However, of all the proposed amendments to the Nigerian constitution the one that has generated the most heat and debate is the elongation of the tenure of the president and governors to 3 terms of 4 years each. This will enable the president of Nigeria, Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, whose tenure expires in May 2007, to remain in power beyond 2007. This tenure amendment, which is alleged to be supported by Gen. Obasanjo is pulling the nation apart. This proposed amendment is now popularly called the third term bid.
Proponents of the third term bids hinges there support on the need for continuity of the anti-corruption drive of the Obasanjo administration. They claim that if the president is not allowed to continue most what they called “good governance” introduced by this administration will be abandoned. According to them some of this achievements include the debt relief recently granted to Nigeria by the Paris club; huge investments in telecoms sector ,most especially in the deployment of GSM in Nigeria, the achievements of Nigeria food and drug regulator, NAFDAC; the anti corruption drive of the government; huge foreign investment in all sectors in Nigeria; and transparency and accountability in government.
Opponents of the third term bid, on the other hand points at the selectivity in the fight against corruption; the failure of the government in the energy sector; the brutality of the police and other security apparatus of government; and the breakdown of law and order in various parts of Nigeria as some of the reasons why the president should not be allowed to continue.
As the members of the Nigeria national assembly resumes sitting, it is important that the overall interest of Nigeria is considered first in their deliberation on the third term issue. However, with allegation of bribery from both sides it seems like the interest of Nigeria is hanging on a balance.
It must be said that this is not just about the third term it is also about the fourthterm and the fifthterm, which may even generate more heat and might even make the American prediction of a disintegrated Nigeria come true soon. The warning by the United States director of national intelligence John Negroponte ,that the third term bid if allowed to succeed will result in unrest in Nigeria, must be taken seriously. The thirdterm must not be seen as a do or die affair, so the honourable members of the Nigerian senate and the Federal and State houses of assembly must ensure that the unity of Nigeria and the views of Nigerians whom they represent are considered first.
The present Nigerian constitution is a product of the military. A lot of inadequacies have been noticed in this constitution. This include the marginalisation of the Niger Delta region which is by far the highest contributor of resources to the Nigerian coffers;immunity to criminal prosecution for the president and governor; and the over centralized structure of the Nigerian State.
The constitution review committee of the national assembly have proposed some amendments to the constitution. This include the creation of one more states in the south-east geo-political zone, removal of the immunity of governors from prosecution, an increase of the share of the revenue allocated to the Niger Delta region from 13% to not less than 25%; and an ellongation of the tenure of the president from the current 2 terms of 4 years each to 3 terms of 4 years each.
However, of all the proposed amendments to the Nigerian constitution the one that has generated the most heat and debate is the elongation of the tenure of the president and governors to 3 terms of 4 years each. This will enable the president of Nigeria, Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, whose tenure expires in May 2007, to remain in power beyond 2007. This tenure amendment, which is alleged to be supported by Gen. Obasanjo is pulling the nation apart. This proposed amendment is now popularly called the third term bid.
Proponents of the third term bids hinges there support on the need for continuity of the anti-corruption drive of the Obasanjo administration. They claim that if the president is not allowed to continue most what they called “good governance” introduced by this administration will be abandoned. According to them some of this achievements include the debt relief recently granted to Nigeria by the Paris club; huge investments in telecoms sector ,most especially in the deployment of GSM in Nigeria, the achievements of Nigeria food and drug regulator, NAFDAC; the anti corruption drive of the government; huge foreign investment in all sectors in Nigeria; and transparency and accountability in government.
Opponents of the third term bid, on the other hand points at the selectivity in the fight against corruption; the failure of the government in the energy sector; the brutality of the police and other security apparatus of government; and the breakdown of law and order in various parts of Nigeria as some of the reasons why the president should not be allowed to continue.
As the members of the Nigeria national assembly resumes sitting, it is important that the overall interest of Nigeria is considered first in their deliberation on the third term issue. However, with allegation of bribery from both sides it seems like the interest of Nigeria is hanging on a balance.
It must be said that this is not just about the third term it is also about the fourthterm and the fifthterm, which may even generate more heat and might even make the American prediction of a disintegrated Nigeria come true soon. The warning by the United States director of national intelligence John Negroponte ,that the third term bid if allowed to succeed will result in unrest in Nigeria, must be taken seriously. The thirdterm must not be seen as a do or die affair, so the honourable members of the Nigerian senate and the Federal and State houses of assembly must ensure that the unity of Nigeria and the views of Nigerians whom they represent are considered first.
posted by passyjango @ 5:20 PM
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