THE
Presidency on Wednesday said President Goodluck Jonathan was ready to forget
his ambition to run for second term in 2015 if the Senate passed its proposal
for a single non-renewable six-year tenure into law.
Presidency on Wednesday said President Goodluck Jonathan was ready to forget
his ambition to run for second term in 2015 if the Senate passed its proposal
for a single non-renewable six-year tenure into law.
Though
Jonathan had made half-hearted denial of his ambition for another term in
office, the body movements of the President and his loyalists had clearly shown
that he was preparing to run in the 2015 general election.
Jonathan had made half-hearted denial of his ambition for another term in
office, the body movements of the President and his loyalists had clearly shown
that he was preparing to run in the 2015 general election.
But the
President’s Special Adviser on Political Matters, Dr. Ahmed Gulak, said the
ambition to stage a return would be shelved if Senators decided in favour of a
single term for the President and state governors.
President’s Special Adviser on Political Matters, Dr. Ahmed Gulak, said the
ambition to stage a return would be shelved if Senators decided in favour of a
single term for the President and state governors.
Gulak
who spoke to The PUNCH in Abuja said, “Nigerians will
remember that it was President Jonathan that suggested an idea of a single term
tenure from the beginning. So if the proposal becomes a law, the credit should
go to the President.
who spoke to The PUNCH in Abuja said, “Nigerians will
remember that it was President Jonathan that suggested an idea of a single term
tenure from the beginning. So if the proposal becomes a law, the credit should
go to the President.
“If it
becomes a law and is enshrined in our constitution, the President and everybody
will be bound by the provision of that law. Let us wait and see what happens.
becomes a law and is enshrined in our constitution, the President and everybody
will be bound by the provision of that law. Let us wait and see what happens.
“We are
not seeing the move as a way of stopping President Jonathan from re-contesting
in 2015. The law cannot be made because of one individual.
not seeing the move as a way of stopping President Jonathan from re-contesting
in 2015. The law cannot be made because of one individual.
“When
it takes effect, everybody will be bound by it.”
it takes effect, everybody will be bound by it.”
Our
correspondent had asked Gulak on the response of the President to a proposal by
a Senate committee to introduce single-term tenure and whether the Presidency
felt the proposal was targeting at derailing Jonathan’s 2015 ambition.
correspondent had asked Gulak on the response of the President to a proposal by
a Senate committee to introduce single-term tenure and whether the Presidency
felt the proposal was targeting at derailing Jonathan’s 2015 ambition.
The
PUNCH had on
Tuesday reported exclusively that the Senate Committee on the Review of the
Constitution had recommended non-renewable single six year tenure for the
offices of President, Vice-President, governors and their deputies.
PUNCH had on
Tuesday reported exclusively that the Senate Committee on the Review of the
Constitution had recommended non-renewable single six year tenure for the
offices of President, Vice-President, governors and their deputies.
The
Senate panel’s recommendation disqualifies Jonathan and incumbent governors
from benefitting from the new arrangement if the recommendation becomes law.
Senate panel’s recommendation disqualifies Jonathan and incumbent governors
from benefitting from the new arrangement if the recommendation becomes law.
In
justifying the move, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information and
Media, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, was quoted on Wednesday as saying that the
development was the outcome of public hearings across the country.
justifying the move, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information and
Media, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, was quoted on Wednesday as saying that the
development was the outcome of public hearings across the country.
If
passed into law, Jonathan will not be eligible to contest the 2015 presidential
election.
passed into law, Jonathan will not be eligible to contest the 2015 presidential
election.
Gulak
noted that the President should even be given credit for being the originator
of the single-term proposal.
noted that the President should even be given credit for being the originator
of the single-term proposal.
Jonathan
had in 2011 suggested a single-term of seven years for elective offices to
avoid the wrangling often associated with second-term bids.
had in 2011 suggested a single-term of seven years for elective offices to
avoid the wrangling often associated with second-term bids.
In a
related development, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal,
said on Wednesday that the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution would answer
questions about the nature of Nigeria’s unity.
related development, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal,
said on Wednesday that the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution would answer
questions about the nature of Nigeria’s unity.
Tambuwal
spoke at the opening of a retreat for members of the House AdHoc Committee on
Constitution Review in Abuja.
spoke at the opening of a retreat for members of the House AdHoc Committee on
Constitution Review in Abuja.
The
committee, headed by the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha, organised the
retreat to allow House members appraise the report of the People’s Public
Sessions on the constitution and prepare them for the next stage of the review
process.
committee, headed by the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha, organised the
retreat to allow House members appraise the report of the People’s Public
Sessions on the constitution and prepare them for the next stage of the review
process.
The
public sessions were held across the federation on November 10, 2012, where
Nigerians voted on a 43-item template on sections of the constitution they
desired amendments.
public sessions were held across the federation on November 10, 2012, where
Nigerians voted on a 43-item template on sections of the constitution they
desired amendments.
Tambuwal
acknowledged that Nigeria was facing many challenges, which had forced the
citizens to ask questions on the nature of the country’s union and assured that
the fears expressed by the people would be addressed by the new constitution
envisaged.
acknowledged that Nigeria was facing many challenges, which had forced the
citizens to ask questions on the nature of the country’s union and assured that
the fears expressed by the people would be addressed by the new constitution
envisaged.
He
said, “As you well know, our country today faces many challenges and some of
our people have been asking questions about the very nature of our union.
said, “As you well know, our country today faces many challenges and some of
our people have been asking questions about the very nature of our union.
“We
hope eventually to provide Nigerians with a constitution that will answer some
of these questions and further cement our hard fought unity.”
hope eventually to provide Nigerians with a constitution that will answer some
of these questions and further cement our hard fought unity.”
The
Speaker claimed that reactions from Nigerians since the House publicly tendered
the report of the People’s Public Sessions on April 18 suggested that they had
confidence in the National Assembly to do a thorough representation of their
views in the constitution.
Speaker claimed that reactions from Nigerians since the House publicly tendered
the report of the People’s Public Sessions on April 18 suggested that they had
confidence in the National Assembly to do a thorough representation of their
views in the constitution.
However,
he warned the committee members against cutting corners or attempting to impose
their own views on the people in the course of appraising the report.
he warned the committee members against cutting corners or attempting to impose
their own views on the people in the course of appraising the report.
“So
far, you have all shown remarkable patriotism but I must again emphasise the
need for your work to be free of all personal bias.
far, you have all shown remarkable patriotism but I must again emphasise the
need for your work to be free of all personal bias.
“You
must work only on data provided by the nationwide public hearing and your
conclusion should reflect the aggregate opinion of fellow Nigerians”, the
speaker stated.
must work only on data provided by the nationwide public hearing and your
conclusion should reflect the aggregate opinion of fellow Nigerians”, the
speaker stated.
But the
deputy speaker said, “The results of the Peoples Public Sessions as unveiled by
the House would be subjected to proper legislative action as required by the
Standing Orders of the House and by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria, as amended.
deputy speaker said, “The results of the Peoples Public Sessions as unveiled by
the House would be subjected to proper legislative action as required by the
Standing Orders of the House and by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria, as amended.
“There
are no short-cuts. This retreat will give members of the committee acting on
behalf of the entire House the opportunity to brainstorm on the language of the
amendments where consensus has been reached.
are no short-cuts. This retreat will give members of the committee acting on
behalf of the entire House the opportunity to brainstorm on the language of the
amendments where consensus has been reached.
“It is
pertinent to note that the National Assembly is one. For this process to work,
the House and Senate Constitution Review Committees must work together to
propose the same bills and vote on the same issues.
pertinent to note that the National Assembly is one. For this process to work,
the House and Senate Constitution Review Committees must work together to
propose the same bills and vote on the same issues.
“The
Senate and the House of Representatives must an reach agreement before any
section of the constitution is amended. Indeed, two-thirds of the 36 State
Houses of Assembly must agree (as well).”
Senate and the House of Representatives must an reach agreement before any
section of the constitution is amended. Indeed, two-thirds of the 36 State
Houses of Assembly must agree (as well).”
Source:
Vanguard
Vanguard
