[size=15pt]Opposition mounts against Jonathan’s move[/size]

On July 29, 2011 · In News

BY EMEKA MAMAH, CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, INNOCENT ANABA & OLA AJAYI





LAGOS — FOR the second day running, President Goodluck Jonathan’s proposal for a single tenure for the president and governors continued to stoke the fire of controversy in the polity with the move receiving heavy knocks from some stakeholders.

Among those who opposed the proposal, yesterday, were the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF; Nigerian Bar Association, NBA; National Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Chief Bisi Akande; National Chairman of National Action Council, NAC,, Dr. Olapade Agoro and a human rights activist, Mr. Oghenejafor Ikhimi.

ACN ‘ll frustrate proposal – Akande
Restating ACN’s opposition to the move, Akande vowed to work with other opposition parties to frustrate the plan.
Speaking at a two-day retreat of the National Working Committee of the party in Ibadan, Akande said he did not have any problem with members of his party who were in the National Assembly, noting that ACN lawmakers in both chambers would not oppose working together for the frustration of what he described as ‘fraudulent’ legislation.

For Ikimi, the push would neither reduce election cost nor reduce political unrest, acrimony and desperation for power as the president thought.

From left Chief Akin Oke Oyo state ACN Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande National Chairman ACN, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state and Senator Lawan Shuaib National Secretary ACN during a retreat organize for the National working committee of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ibadan on Thursday Pix by Dare Fasube

He said: “I have read with disapproval the president’s intention to send an executive bill to the National Assembly for a single tenure of six years for  the president and governors of the 36 states as same is not a solution to the unrest, acrimony and the desperation for power that overheats our polity at every general election.  ”

Proposal is embarrassing – Agoro
Describing the move as embarrassing in the face of deep socio- political and  economic problems, Agoro said President Jonathan was “fighting a wrong war, at a wrong time and for a wrong purpose.”

He said: “Realistically and objectively, the tenure elongation proposal should and must not be Jonathan’s priority now, with the menacing Boko Haram terrorism daily claiming lives of innocent Nigerians with reckless abandon.”

It’s not solution to our problems – ACF
In like manner, the  ACF, criticised the proposed single tenure of six years for president and governors. National Publicity Secretary of the group, Mr. Anthony Sani, told Vanguard in a telephone interview that the solution to the myriad of problems facing the nation required those in authority to respect the sanctity of human life as well as their social contract with the people and not single or two- term tenure.

Sani said: “ACF is yet to consider the pros and cons of the single tenure suggested by Mr. President but I am not sure if the single tenure or restructuring being bandied about are the solution to our national malaise. ”

Constitutional amendment, not Nigerians’ priority for now –  NBA
The NBA also picked holes in the proposed single tenure arrangement, saying it would not change the attitude of politicians in the country to violence, rigging and lack of internal democracy in their respective political parties.

NBA President, Mr Joseph Daudu, SAN, in his address at the National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of the association in Katsina, said: “Nigerians are only interested in concrete execution of their mandate and it does not include changing the system, which brought Mr.

President and his political friends into office. The new system being sought to be foisted on Nigerians is based on the presumption that politicians won’t change their ways as it relates to violence, rigging, lack of internal democracy, etc all of which have been canvassed as the reason for a one term tenure.”

“Honestly, I thought that the President had made progress in the last election in the transformation of the political psyche of Nigerians. By disavowing rigging and other forms of electoral misdemeanours, it became possible to have an election internationally recognised as free and fair, it became possible for President Jonathan to have the legitimacy to govern, which he now seeks to squander on the altar of political expediency and on the ‘scratch my back I scratch your back’ syndrome.

“Our president ought to build on the gains of the last election in terms of political maturity rather than proceeding on this misadventure of constitutional amendment at this stage. The quest for a one term rule will deprive the people of the services of a conscientious and indeed dedicated leader who has discharged his constitutional mandate and ruled in accordance with his oath of office but who has not completed his programme. “

Should such a dedicated servant of the people not be entitled to re-election and in the converse, should a non-performer be allowed to exceed 4 years? The decision on whether to reward or reject a serving politician with re-election is the exclusive preserve of the people and it cannot be taken away by a band of politicians elected by the very same people the purport to represent.

“The amendment proceeds as I said on the principle of an incorrigible political culture. If that is so, enforcing our laws on crimes, raising the banner of rule of law aloft,” he added.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/07/opposition-mounts-against-jonathans-move/