Many Nigerians have declared their support for the proposed Bills by 35 members of the House of Representatives seeking a single term of six years for the President and State governors, as well rotation of the Presidency among the country’s six geo-political zones and rotation of the governorship among the three senatorial districts in States.
Spokesperson for the lawmakers, under the auspices of ‘The Reformed-minded Legislators, Ikenga Ugochinyere, said the proposal would reduce cost of governance, unite the country, and ensure a seamless transition and unprecedented development.
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?Thirty-five members of the House of Representatives behind the Bill have given reasons for introducing Bill seeking to amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as Amended) to limit the period which any individual can serve as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Governor of State from two terms of 4 years each to a single 6-year tenure, rotational Presidency and Governorship, conduct of all elections in one day, the conclusion of all pre-election matters before election, resolutions of all post-election matters before swearing-in, and mandatory transmission of results, among others.
?Ugochinyere said, “We are lawmakers of like minds, and committed to the 10th House Agenda of building a democracy that works for all using legislative instrument.
“We have now reached a critical phase where what is at stake is the very survival of Nigeria as one political and economic unit. We must rise to the challenge, and what we do with this opportunity given to us by our people matters a lot”.
According to him, “These Bills, which are 50 in number, will touch on every aspect of development in all sectors of our economy and well-being as a nation. The purpose of the Bill is to reduce government spending and wastages, promote efficiency in governance, and engender national stability by providing a single-term of six years for the President and Governors.
The amendment to create the office of two vice-presidents from the southern and northern parts of Nigeria is aimed at making the 1st Vice-president to be a succession Vice-president, while the 2nd Vice-president will be a Minister in-charge of the Economy. To get the electoral process right, the proposed Bills will address, capture and eradicate corruption in the electoral processes”.
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?Throwing their weight behind the bill, Nigerians argued that if passed into law, the Bills would end agitations, redefine the country’s democracy and bring peace and equity.
Some citizens however, dismissed the proposal, saying a single six-year tenure was not the way out for many problems besetting the country and would not change anything.
Former Chairman, National Economic Summit, Sam Ohuabunwa, said a single six-year term for the President will arrest the unnecessary fight and desperation associated with second term bid. According to him, “This idea is fantastic. I think the proponents are the most patriotic Nigeria lawmakers I have ever seen or heard in recent times. I’m so impressed that they have looked at all the issues causing trouble in Nigeria. They have just given solutions to Nigeria’s problems.
“They have given a very simple solution. A single-term presidency will put a stop to all the trouble that we have been going through in this country. Somebody who is fighting to succeed because of a second term will stop. This is the time you see the fiercest fight because the incumbent uses government resources to impose himself/herself on the people, unlike in the first-term where one depends on one’s personal resources. Second-term bid is when the country is shaking and wants to break; but this single-term presidency will solve it”.
On rotation of Presidency, he said, “Rotation of presidency will bring peace and equity. It will minimise friction, because everybody will have to wait for their turn. It will also bring healthy competition among the six geo-political zones. So, I support it, and want all the lawmakers to support it. I also want all the elections to be held in one day. Let’s also adopt electronic transmission of election results. I just wish that other National Assembly members would wake up and stop being anti-Nigeria, or thinking of how it will benefit them first.
The fate of the Bill would however be decided by the disposition of the Government in power. If the it agrees with the proposition, it will pass easily, but if the Government is lackadaisical over it, then we are in trouble. The President used to talk of reforms, but he has stopped. But if he believes in reforms and works towards it, the Bill will pass”.
On his part, Environmentalist and former Secretary of the Civil Liberties Organisation, (CLO), Alagoa Morris, said, “As attractive as it could be, I just wonder how it will address the greed of Nigerians. For me, making social institutions stronger and more effective may be of help. The independence of the three arms of Government would help where check and balance work”.
Some citizens however expressed their opposition to the Bill, on the grounds that it is not the solution to the many problems confronting us as a nation.
Ex-spokesman, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide national leader, New Era Movement, Ebilade Ekerefe, stated; “I do not believe that a single-term of six years for Presidents and governors is the solution to the problems of Nigeria. What is important is the character, competence and capacity of the individual occupying the office. What is more important is if the people can feel the impact of your government.
“Therefore, it is not about power rotation, but the capacity to deliver. We expect the lawmakers to focus more on proposing a Constitutional amendment that will entrench true fiscal federalism in the country.
“Under the existing arrangement, power is too concentrated at the center, which has made most states ineffective and unproductive. If we must get it right, there should be amendments that will give more power to States to deal with their peculiar socio-economic challenges”.
