Constitution review: Lawmakers dump Jonathan’s 7-yr single term
The incumbent would not, however, benefit from the arrangement. Besides, should the proposal sail through, the five-year single term would run for 30 years as it would be rotated among the country’s six geo-political zones.
The plan emerged at the Senate Constitution Review Committee (CRC) held in Asaba, Delta State at the weekend. National Assembly sources told Daily Sun that under the proposal, “each of the six geo-political zone would have a shot each and by then, it is hoped, democracy would have stabilized in Nigeria. “After the 30-year period, the country could then consider going back to the two terms of four years for the office of President, governors and their deputies...The main purpose of this arrangement is to maintain a stable, national system of democracy for Nigeria.”
Last year, President Goodluck Jonathan proposed an amendment of the 1999 Constitution which would change the two terms of four years to a more manageable seven-year single tenure for the executive arm of government. Members of the legislature would not be bound by tenure limit. At its two-day retreat held at the Delta Convention Centre, the Guest Speaker, Prof Jonah Isawa Elaigwu, suggested that henceforth, the tenure of the executive should be for just a five-year single tenure. Prof. Elaigwu, who presented the paper: “Amending the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria” stated that Nigeria would benefit from a single five-year term rather than what obtains presently.
But sources close to the committee told Daily Sun that although the Ekweremadu committee is favourably disposed to the Elaigwu’s suggestion, “the fact of the matter is that people are scared. Seven years is too long for anyone to hold power in a complex country like Nigeria. That’s why the five-year single term is being proposed.”
In a telephone interview with Daily Sun yesterday, Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, debunked a report that the Senate CRC suggested the five-year single tenure option. Ekweremadu said that the panel “has no preconceived ideas or positions on the amendment of the 1999 Constitution. Reacting, Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN), who chaired the communique committee, reiterated that the five-year single tenure for the President and others is just a mere proposal.
He said: “ The five-year single term proposal is just a proposal, a suggestion at this stage. You were there in Asaba and you heard who mooted the idea. The committee hasn’t sat down to even consider any of the proposals brought to the table in Delta State. Meanwhile, the committee has also decided to once and for all, tackle the knotty issue of “creation of one state for the South-East zone for equity and fairness.” Ndoma-Egba said this when he gave a summary of the Senate retreat at the weekend. He also noted that the committee would also look at the necessity for creation of state police.
Also, Rivers State Governor and Chairman of the Nigerian Governor’s Forum, Rotimi Amaechi, has said tinkering with the immunity clause in the Constitution to strip governors of immunity from criminal prosecution is a non-issue. In his remarks at the retreat, Amaechi insisted that there is no Constitution in the world that does not have the clause enshrined in it.
“On behalf of the Nigerian Governor’s Forum, we are glad that you are amending the Constitution. Our Constitution is an unwritten Constitution...You cannot avoid the critical issues; you must put all the issues as it affects the development and progress of the country on the table for discussion and amendment.
“Who is a Nigerian? Who are the federating units? Who generates the revenue? How are the revenues shared? Are the projects equitable shared? What are the entitlements of the Nigerian? he asked
Comments