The one tenure proposal for the president and governors has continued to be a topic of debate. Whereas some stakeholders describe it as a panacea to issues normally related to re-election bids, others are of the view that it’s going to encourage dictatorship, FELIX NWANERI experiences
Tenure limitation for political workplace holders has at all times been a significant difficulty in Nigeria given the truth that battle for second time period is without doubt one of the essential causes for the strife that normally characterize elections each 4 years.
Whereas most politicians and their supporters see quest for public workplace as warfare somewhat than contest of concepts, there isn’t any doubt that elections in Nigeria are at big price. The consequence of this, embrace waste of human and materials sources, acrimony and divisiveness.
This, maybe, informs requires adoption of the one time period possibility for occupants of the workplace of president and governors, which in keeping with its advocates, is not going to solely scale back the strain that comes with second time period politics, however will assist public workplace holders focus on serving the folks.
Whereas such name appears to have gained momentum of late, it’s nonetheless not new. Late former Vice President, Alex Ekwueme, proposed a single five-year tenure for the president and governors on the 1995 Constitutional Convention though the proposal was not adopted. Dr. Goodluck Jonathan additionally made the same proposal in 2011, when he was in workplace as president.
He argued on the time that his suggestion was borne out of patriotic zeal in addition to the truth that the 2 phrases supplied for the president and governors within the structure has not assured stability within the polity.
He famous that moreover inter and intra-party squabbles, which have an effect on the expansion of political events within the nation, acrimony that normally follows the difficulty of election and re-election on the federal and state ranges overheats the polity.
He expressed the idea that adopting a single tenure will assist him actualize his transformation agenda, including that the face of politics within the nation will change as holders of government positions on the federal and state ranges will focus on governance and improvement somewhat than easy methods to safe a second time period.
Regardless of Jonathan’s explanations and assurance on the proposal, then opposition political events unanimously rebuffed it. They insisted that it was self-serving and secondary given the myriad of issues the nation was going through at the moment. However Jonathan, who was satisfied on the thought, mentioned he had no regrets arising with the proposal.
In line with him, it was meant to stabilise the polity in addition to scale back excessive price of conducting elections each 4 years. His phrases: “I’ve no regrets over the six-year single time period tenure. The difficulty of single tenure was meant to stabilize the polity as conducting of elections each 4 years creates rather a lot pressure within the polity.
The price of election is sort of excessive.” Whereas he famous then that the Federal Authorities spent N130 billion within the 2011 elections, the 2023 basic election price the nation over N300 billion. Moreover Ekwueme and Jonathan, a former Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekeweremadu, who made the same proposal in 2017, superior that it’s going to facilitate a extra fast rotation of energy among the many varied sections of the nation.
His phrases then: “I assist the proposals to remodel the present tenure of two four-year phrases right into a single time period of 5 – 6 years. Amongst different marketed advantages, single phrases would keep away from the distractions, manipulations and divisiveness of re-election campaigns, whereas facilitating a extra fast circulation or rotation of energy among the many varied teams.”
Ekweremadu, who then urged Nigeria and different African nations to be taught from the failures and successes of older democracies, notably, the Latin American democracies, added: “It is for that reason that the Senate Committee on the Evaluation of the 1999 Structure, which I chaired in 2014, felt {that a} single time period would serve the ends of our present democracy.
Sadly, the advice failed as a result of ethnic suspicions and parochial pursuits prevented cheap and good religion analysis of our worthy proposal.”
tenth Home of Reps
Whereas the seventh Nationwide Meeting shut down the one time period proposal throughout its evaluation of the structure, the current tenth Home of Representatives in July handed by the primary studying a invoice, searching for to amend the 1999 Structure to offer for a single time period of six years for the places of work of the president, state governors and chairman of native governments to curb wastages occasioned by 4 years periodic elections.
Each politician is searching for reelection. So, the one strategy to remedy this drawback is by giving no incentive to anyone by adoption of 1 time period of six years
The non-public member invoice was sponsored by the member representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency, Imo State, Ikenga Ugochinyere and 50 different lawmakers.
The invoice is cited as “Structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As amended) (Alteration) Invoice 2024.” The proposed invoice seeks to change sections 7, 135, 137, 180 and 182 (1) of the 1999 Structure (as amended). Clause 2, notably seeks to amend part 7 of the Principal Act by inserting a brand new subsection (5) instantly after the extant subsection 4 and earlier than the extant subsection 5 as follows, “(5) A holder of the workplace of a Native authorities chairman shall vacate his workplace at expiration of a interval of six years commencing from the date such holder was elected into workplace.”
Clause 3 of the invoice seeks to amend part 135 subsections (2), (2A) and (3) of the Principal Act by changing the phrase “4” with “six” to learn: “(2) Topic to the provisions of subsection (1) of this part, the President shall vacate his workplace on the expiration of a interval of six (6) years single tenure commencing from the date, when – (a) within the case of an individual first elected as President underneath this Structure, he took the Oath of Allegiance and the oath of workplace; and (b) in another case, the individual final elected to that workplace underneath this Structure took the Oath of Allegiance and oath of workplace or would, however for his dying, have taken such oaths.
“(2A) within the willpower of the six years time period, the place a re-run election has taken place and the individual earlier sworn wins the rerun election, the time spent within the workplace earlier than the date the election was annulled, shall be taken under consideration.
(3) If the Federation is at warfare wherein the territory of Nigeria is bodily concerned and the President considers that it isn’t practicable to carry elections, the Nationwide Meeting could by decision prolong the interval of six (6) years talked about in subsection (2) of this part infrequently; however no such extension shall exceed a interval of six months at anyone time.”
Clause 4 of the invoice seeks to amend Part 137 of the Principal Act by deleting paragraph (b) and renumbering appropriately Clause 5 of the proposed laws l seeks to amend Part 180 of the Principal Act by deleting the extant subsections 2 and three and changing it with new subsections 2 and three.
It reads: “(2) Topic to the provisions of subsection (1) of this part, the governor shall vacate his workplace on the expiration of a interval of six (6) years single tenure commencing from the date when — (a) within the case of an individual first elected as governor underneath this structure, he took the Oath of Allegiance and oath of workplace; and (b) the individual final elected to that workplace took the Oath of Allegiance and oath of workplace or would, however for his dying, have taken such oaths.
“(3) If the Federation is at warfare wherein the territory of Nigeria is bodily concerned and the President considers that it isn’t practicable to carry elections, the Nationwide Meeting could by decision prolong the interval of six years talked about in subsection (2) of this part infrequently, however no such extension shall exceed a interval of six months at anyone time. Clause 5 of the invoice seeks to amend Part 182 (1) by deleting paragraph (b) and renumbering appropriately.”
Makinde’s proposal
Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, who contributed to the controversy in August final yr, expanded the coast by proposing that tenure for legislative seats (nationwide and state Meeting) must also be restricted to a single time period.
In line with Makinde, a six yr single tenure for the president, governors, nationwide and state Meeting members, will give holders of such places of work sufficient time to do every part they take note of inside a single time period as a substitute of fascinated with a second time period.
The governor made the decision, whereas talking at a dinner in honour of the Nationwide Govt of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), to flag off the group’s retreat in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital,.
His phrases: “Right here in Nigeria, each 4 years, similar to most democracies around the globe, we come collectively as a nation to decide on our leaders and I additionally listened to our Baba, the Nationwide President of PFN, he mentioned the management of PFN has simply completed the primary half of its tenure. I simply learnt that there isn’t any second time period in PFN. Perhaps, we have to be taught one or two issues from that association for our nation. “I’m a supporter of a single time period construction.
As a matter of reality, I didn’t desire a second time period and I instructed the fathers of religion that 4 years will not be lengthy sufficient to do every part that you simply wish to do, however it’s lengthy sufficient to make your personal impression and go your personal approach. However perhaps, if now we have the chance to debate this, I feel a 5 or six-year single time period will actually be sufficient for many of us to do no matter it’s that we’re speculated to do.”
Atiku helps transfer
Rekindling the one time period because the tenth Nationwide Meeting embarks on one other evaluation of the structure, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, additionally proposed rotation of the presidential energy among the many six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) within the 2023 elections made the proposals in a memorandum dated August 30 to the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, who additionally chairs the Senate Committee on Structure Evaluation.
The previous vice-president seeks modification to part 130 (1) of the Structure to learn as follows: “The workplace of the president shall rotate among the many six geopolitical zones of the federation on a single time period of six years flowing between the North and South on the one time period of six years respectively.”
He additionally needs an modification to part 135 (2) of the Structure to learn thus: “Topic to the provisions of the subsection (1), the President shall vacate his workplace on the expiration of a interval of six years commencing from the date.”
In line with the explanatory observe overlaying the proposals by the previous vice-president, the amendments that he seeks within the evaluation of the structure intention on the following:
These amendments search to lift the usual of the tutorial qualification of political workplace seekers, guarantee an finish to a violent takeover of political events thereby strengthening the inner construction of political events and scale back the tendencies of political events to breach the structure, electoral act, guidelines and pointers made thereunder, and the structure of the political get together.
Whereas Atiku is of the view that “the implication of the above is that political events are allowed very large latitude to breach the perimeter of legal guidelines on elections.
Such indiscipline by political events and infidelity to the electoral parameters yield chaos within the system,” he maintained that the amendments he proposed will enthrone the self-discipline that’s wanted in a democracy.
The 2014 Nationwide Convention additionally really useful related energy rotation. It additionally really useful that the governorship seat ought to rotate among the many three senatorial districts in every of the 36 states.
We shouldn’t see it that the polity will at all times get heated up, each time persons are searching for for a second time period. It’s simply that now we have not been in a position to give you a mechanism that may sufficiently assure that votes of Nigerians depend
Stakeholders differ
Expectedly divergent views have trailed the varied proposals for single time period. Whereas some stakeholders mentioned it’s price giving a trial, others are of the view that the disadvantages outweigh the benefits.
These in assist of the proposal, not solely described the thought as good, however added that extra measures reminiscent of strict adherence to the rule of regulation, can mitigate second-term desperation, scale back distractions to governance, preserve funds and enhance the standard of elections.
A former governor of Abia State and senator representing Abia North Senatorial District, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, who expressed assist for a single time period of six years for presidents and state governors, mentioned such association is not going to solely scale back price of governance but in addition foster fast improvement.
Noting that the present system of two tenures of 4 years every is pricey and normally distracts elected officers from concentrating on governance, Kalu mentioned:
“Once I was governor, I referred to as for a single time period of six years. Keep in mind, President Olusegun Obasanjo mentioned I used to be after him. That was a part of the start of our quarrel. I advocated for that due to the price of going for re-election, due to managing the economic system. As a result of when folks turn out to be governors or president, their eyes are on re-election.
“They don’t seem to be even fascinated with what folks will do or what folks will get. Each politician is searching for re-election. So, the one strategy to remedy this drawback is by giving no incentive to anyone by adoption one time period of six years. It’s going to go a great distance in boosting efficiency as a result of most of individuals assume they should make cash for re-election.
In my minority opinion, I don’t know the bulk opinion. I feel most politicians are trying ahead to the subsequent election.” World Initiatives for Good Governance (GIGG), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), which backed Atiku’s place on the one time period proposal, mentioned that rotational presidency will reshape Nigeria and quicken improvement throughout the nation.
Director-Basic of tGIGG, Dr. Emeka Kalu, who spoke on behalf of the group, additionally posited that the proposal, if adopted, will be sure that all of the six geo-political zones of the nation have entry to the presidency.
He, nonetheless, insisted that his group’s place is neither a refined marketing campaign to popularise Atiku’s curiosity nor making a case for his 2027 presidential ambition, however aimed toward guaranteeing a greater Nigeria for all. “If actualised, Atiku’s proposal for constitutional modification to seize rotational presidency between the Southern and Northern areas will allow every of the six geo-political zones the ability to supply the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,”
Kalu mentioned, whereas interesting to the Nationwide Meeting to contemplate the proposal. Noting that marginalisation, a poorly applied federal character precept and agitations for fairness have continued to spark civil unrest within the nation, thereby resulting in the varied violent instances of civil dysfunction, terrorism and different pockets of criminalities,
Kalu averred that single time period and rotational presidency may also help to nip the crises within the bud, whereas additionally birthing a brand new Nigeria, the place peaceable co-existence, unity and mutual relationship throughout tribal strains could possibly be achieved.
Nevertheless, members of one other political college, who dismissed the one time period proposal, expressed the view that it’s going to not solely encourage corruption but in addition discourage good efficiency because it lacks the essential components of motivation and incentives for efficiency wanted in administration of human affairs.
Members of this college added that there are extra urgent points plaguing the nation for anyone to proceed to dissipate time and power on the one tenure debate.
In line with them, if the structure should be amended, it needs to be to restructure Nigerian to enthrone true federalism. Founding Nationwide Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Chekwas Okorie, who spoke on the difficulty, instructed New Telegraph that the proposal is totally at variance with the presidential system as practiced in america (U.S.), the place Nigeria copied her system of presidency from.
His phrases: “Each possibility has its personal deserves and demerits. Late former Vice President Alex Ekwueme’s proposal was extra acceptable and had extra sound reasoning primarily based on our expertise as a nation. He proposed that have been can be six vice-presidents to serve with a president, who could have a five-year single time period.
He additional proposed that if something occurs to a president in workplace whether or not on account of dying or resignation, the vp from his geopolitical zone will full his tenure and that energy ought to rotate among the many zones. “Ekwueme’s proposal was primarily based on rotation of energy and he didn’t say that it needs to be what Nigeria ought to do endlessly.
He proposed that by the point all of the six geopolitical zones would have produced a president, who would serve for a single time period of 5 years inside a interval of 30 years, it will be fully erased within the sense that Nigeria would have attained such nationhood that the place a presidential candidate comes from will not matter.
“That was the idealistic context of Ekwueme’s proposal, which for me, made a whole lot of sense. If it was adopted at the moment, by now, we’d have gone previous the difficulty of zoning. The one Governor Makinde talked about is principally primarily based on, could also be, discount of price of elections and the idea that elected public workplace holders will put of their greatest throughout the single time period tenure.
“Nevertheless, it doesn’t work like that. What if someone, who’s going there for one time period, decides that she or he will steal no matter that’s out there to be stolen, figuring out that she or he just isn’t coming again? That’s the down aspect of the choice.”
Okorie, additionally mentioned that proponents of a single time period, additionally appear to not have thought-about the opposite argument that somebody who’s elected for a single time period could flip right into a dictator or what he described as “president or governor-do-nothing” given that he’s not going to hunt re-election.
Talking additional, he mentioned {that a} single time period will deny the voters the fitting and need to vote out a non performing governor or president sooner than desired. “A governor or president who’s voted out after the primary time period is an eloquent testimony of non-performance and such dangerous document will proceed to hang-out the individual.
So, the concern of shedding re-election will induce efficiency in a public workplace holder, who ordinarily is not going to have carried out something. “Conversely, a single tenure will manacle the voters from having fun with the great wto ork of a performing governor or president.
Having mentioned that, I wish to add that the two-term tenure is working in america, the place we copied our presidential system of presidency from, so we shouldn’t see it that the polity will at all times get heated up, each time persons are searching for for a second time period.
It’s simply that now we have not been in a position to give you a mechanism that may sufficiently assure that votes of Nigerians depend.” Whereas the various positions on the one time period proposal have their respective deserves and demerits, there isn’t any doubt that politics is sure to be contentious, however to mitigate towards acrimony, the varied political events ought to guarantee inner democracy, which in flip ensures free and honest elections.
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