A
former federal commissioner for information, Chief Edwin Clark, has said that
it is only the constitution that can stop President Goodluck Jonathan from
contesting the 2015 presidential election.
former federal commissioner for information, Chief Edwin Clark, has said that
it is only the constitution that can stop President Goodluck Jonathan from
contesting the 2015 presidential election.
He
noted that the purported agreement between the president and some governors on
the platform of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) does not hold water.
noted that the purported agreement between the president and some governors on
the platform of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) does not hold water.
The
Ijaw leader explained that since the constitution made provision for two terms,
every other agreement on number of terms for the president is illegal.
Ijaw leader explained that since the constitution made provision for two terms,
every other agreement on number of terms for the president is illegal.
Clark
blamed the ongoing noise about the president second term bid on some few
politicians who he accused of overheating the polity for their personal
ambitions.
blamed the ongoing noise about the president second term bid on some few
politicians who he accused of overheating the polity for their personal
ambitions.
He
spoke on Tuesday when he received a delegation of Second Republic federal
legislatures at his Asokoro House, Abuja.
spoke on Tuesday when he received a delegation of Second Republic federal
legislatures at his Asokoro House, Abuja.
He
said, “So Nigeria is great, only few people want to confuse this country because
of their personal ambitions.
said, “So Nigeria is great, only few people want to confuse this country because
of their personal ambitions.
“Today
is Mr. President’s turn, tomorrow it will be another man’s turn. That is why we
have the constitution. The constitution says that before you can be qualified
to be a president of this country, you must have contested through elections
and after the first term of four years, you can contest again for a second term
of another four years. Thereafter, you will not be eligible again, that is the
law.
is Mr. President’s turn, tomorrow it will be another man’s turn. That is why we
have the constitution. The constitution says that before you can be qualified
to be a president of this country, you must have contested through elections
and after the first term of four years, you can contest again for a second term
of another four years. Thereafter, you will not be eligible again, that is the
law.
“The
law does not state that you remain in office for one term, you can enter into
agreement with some individuals that after your one term, someone else will
come in, that will be illegal. Such an agreement will be null and void,
unconstitutional; nobody can change the constitution of Nigeria that is the
1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
law does not state that you remain in office for one term, you can enter into
agreement with some individuals that after your one term, someone else will
come in, that will be illegal. Such an agreement will be null and void,
unconstitutional; nobody can change the constitution of Nigeria that is the
1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Even
though people are saying that it is imperfect, it is perfect until it is
changed or amended. I think under section 137, Mr. President is entitle to two
terms of eight years and as a former member you recognize that in your time
Alhaji Shehu Shagari, the president during the Second Republic of Nigeria was
elected president of this country in 1979 and he remained in office until 1983
when we sat down again at the convention and re- elected him.
though people are saying that it is imperfect, it is perfect until it is
changed or amended. I think under section 137, Mr. President is entitle to two
terms of eight years and as a former member you recognize that in your time
Alhaji Shehu Shagari, the president during the Second Republic of Nigeria was
elected president of this country in 1979 and he remained in office until 1983
when we sat down again at the convention and re- elected him.
“You
were all there and that was the time all of you left but that was the time some
of us were elected as senators but for the military intervention. Some of them
here said it is time for military to rule so they over threw our government in
December 1983.
were all there and that was the time all of you left but that was the time some
of us were elected as senators but for the military intervention. Some of them
here said it is time for military to rule so they over threw our government in
December 1983.
“We
woke up and they said we are no longer in office otherwise Alhaji Shagari
should have remained in office until the end of his second term. Then, Obasanjo
was elected the president of this country in 1999. In 2003, he re- contested in
accordance with the provision of the Nigerian Constitution for another four
years even though his deputy was trying to over throw him, he couldn’t succeed
because of the constitution.
woke up and they said we are no longer in office otherwise Alhaji Shagari
should have remained in office until the end of his second term. Then, Obasanjo
was elected the president of this country in 1999. In 2003, he re- contested in
accordance with the provision of the Nigerian Constitution for another four
years even though his deputy was trying to over throw him, he couldn’t succeed
because of the constitution.
“Nigeria
said come back again for another four years. It was when he wanted to go beyond
what the constitution provided that Nigerians said enough is enough.”
said come back again for another four years. It was when he wanted to go beyond
what the constitution provided that Nigerians said enough is enough.”
Source: The Nation
