President Goodluck Jonathan is forging ahead with his proposal for single term tenure for the President and Governors with consultations with ethnic nationality groups scheduled to commence, weekend.
The President’s move, it was learnt, followed supportive gestures from strategic political stakeholders including a number of second term governors who have given positive support for the proposal.
The meeting with ethnic nationality and pro-democracy groups, it was learnt, would precede a large scale comprehensive amendment that would, for the first time, give the ethnic nationality groups an expression into the form and style of government for the country.
The constitution amendment bill, which is still in the works, it was learnt, would then be forwarded to the National Assembly at the end of the talks with all strategic stakeholders.
Among the groups targeted for the meetings flagging off from Lagos this weekend are the Pro-National Conference group (PRONACO), pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere; Citizens Forum for Constitution Reform (CFCR); the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF); the South South Peoples Assembly (SSPA) and the Ohanaeze Ndigbo among others.
Jonathan, it was learnt, would, however, not be personally engaged in the one-on-one talks with the groups as constitutional experts in the Presidency were the ones being deployed to engage the nationality groups on the proposals. He is, however, expected to lead the talks with governors and political party leaders before the final submission of the constitution amendment bill to the National Assembly.
A source privy to the development told Vanguard: “Although the government has an idea of what is to be done, it believes that all views and opinions must be taken into consideration before the final draft is taken to the National Assembly.”
The presidency it was learnt was forging ahead with the proposals despite wide outcry.
Among the strategic stakeholders giving support to the idea are some second term Governors, it was learnt yesterday.
“The Presidency is being inundated with calls from many governors and legislators, especially those on their second terms. They have no problems with the single tenure issue. National Assembly members also have no problem with that,” the source disclosed yesterday.
“Many of them believe that it will hasten the rotation of power in the states, while some of them have plans to contest for governorship seat. These Nigerians are insisting that there should be no plans to rethink the single term bill.”
“The draftsmen have also been telling Nigerians to forward their own bills to the government or to the National Assembly. There is nothing that stops them from sending in their own bills so that we can arrive at an acceptable law that will meet the aspirations of all Nigerians.”
“Some Nigerians in the Diaspora and constitution experts have forwarded bills to the team, so nothing should stop all categories of Nigerians from sending bills and proposals.”
The President’s move, it was learnt, followed supportive gestures from strategic political stakeholders including a number of second term governors who have given positive support for the proposal.
The meeting with ethnic nationality and pro-democracy groups, it was learnt, would precede a large scale comprehensive amendment that would, for the first time, give the ethnic nationality groups an expression into the form and style of government for the country.
The constitution amendment bill, which is still in the works, it was learnt, would then be forwarded to the National Assembly at the end of the talks with all strategic stakeholders.
Among the groups targeted for the meetings flagging off from Lagos this weekend are the Pro-National Conference group (PRONACO), pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere; Citizens Forum for Constitution Reform (CFCR); the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF); the South South Peoples Assembly (SSPA) and the Ohanaeze Ndigbo among others.
Jonathan, it was learnt, would, however, not be personally engaged in the one-on-one talks with the groups as constitutional experts in the Presidency were the ones being deployed to engage the nationality groups on the proposals. He is, however, expected to lead the talks with governors and political party leaders before the final submission of the constitution amendment bill to the National Assembly.
A source privy to the development told Vanguard: “Although the government has an idea of what is to be done, it believes that all views and opinions must be taken into consideration before the final draft is taken to the National Assembly.”
The presidency it was learnt was forging ahead with the proposals despite wide outcry.
Among the strategic stakeholders giving support to the idea are some second term Governors, it was learnt yesterday.
“The Presidency is being inundated with calls from many governors and legislators, especially those on their second terms. They have no problems with the single tenure issue. National Assembly members also have no problem with that,” the source disclosed yesterday.
“Many of them believe that it will hasten the rotation of power in the states, while some of them have plans to contest for governorship seat. These Nigerians are insisting that there should be no plans to rethink the single term bill.”
“The draftsmen have also been telling Nigerians to forward their own bills to the government or to the National Assembly. There is nothing that stops them from sending in their own bills so that we can arrive at an acceptable law that will meet the aspirations of all Nigerians.”
“Some Nigerians in the Diaspora and constitution experts have forwarded bills to the team, so nothing should stop all categories of Nigerians from sending bills and proposals.”
the president should be informed that we did not elect him to put the issue of single term in the front burner of his programs.may i remind him that he was elected for the following reasons.
ReplyDelete1. the ensure steady and adequate power supply, most of the companies in Nigeria are running huge over head cost as a result of generating their own power. most Nigeria have become INDIVIDUAL/INDEPENDENT power producers through their generating sets which ought to be stand-by.
2. our Roads are not only death traps but slaughter fields of both the old and the young Nigerians
3. Terrorism, the BOKO-HARAM Questions, which is more of a direct test or challenge to Goodluck Jonathan's presidency.
4. the Education sectors is a no go area.
5. the Nigerian health sector according to one of the ministerial nominee "Nigeria is sitting on what he term MEDICAL TIME-BOMB" because most Nigerians are now going to India for medical treatment, what a shame.
In as much i don't expect President Jonathan to solve myriad of problems confronting the nation, I believe that He should focus on issues that have direct consequence on the productivity which would enhance the quality life of the Nigerians. It is of ultmost importance for the president to solve power and road problems and Nigerians would be eternally grateful just as the problem of Telecommunication was addressed and today Nigerians are thriving very well the sector with a positive spiral impacts on the Socio-Economic development of the country.Term adjustment is more of a diversionary approach and in my opinion, it a ploy by people who either has nothing to offer Nigerians or are overwhelmed by the situation of the country's problems.