By Kola Animashaun
“My proposal for a single seven-year  tenure is anchored on the need for an incumbent president to focus maximum attention on the execution of his development programmes instead of expending vital energy on re-election issues”- Goodluck  Jonathan

Jonathan must have made up his mind to have a double mandate on the presidency. Within six months he has sent a bill to elongate his tenure. Even though he made it known that that was not his intention. Who would have thought the scientist was capable of such a thing!

He did not give us a feeling of capability. For sure the father of all has the suavity of a man.

He can browbeat the best of them. But to be sure he failed when he wanted a third-term. He had eight double terms, wanted more and Nigerians saw through him. It was an attempt to perpetuate himself in power.

His Ijaw cousin now thinks he can beat him at his own game. He probably thought he would be able to explain himself to the French foreign minister by name of Alain Juppe when he could not convince his compatriots.

“Many of those who opposed the proposed constitutional amendment did so because they thought he (Goodluck) wanted to add seven years to his (Jonathan) current four-year term” , the paper said.

That was why the president explained himself in the quotation above.

Of course Jonathan agreed that “Major challenge still remained the attempt by incumbent rulers to stay in power beyond constitutional mandates. Did he believe himself?

Immediately Goodluck lighted on the need to ensure political stability. Which was rationale for the bill. If the bill goes through, who will benefit?

He said proposed amendment will take off in 2015. Did he?

In the annals of Nigerian history, there has never been anything above four years term. It has been left to Nigerians to elect their representatives when their terms expire, every four years.

Now what would happen to the governors, the legislators and the councillors? Would they go for a seven years stint?

The president should concentrate on making a success of his term rather than seeking for an elongation of time.

Of course, all the political parties have shouted the proposal down if they matter, the organised Labour mattered more.

It said Nigerians needed improved power to drive its industry; improved roads network which at this moment is nothing to write home about; employment generation; poverty reduction. Not a proposal to a single seven-year term.

It says: “The new proposal is patronising and insulting to 150 million Nigerians and certainly it is not presidential on the part of the president”.

I hope the president will not go beyond the bill as a proposal. There has much more to do than a seven-year term.

To FF Congratulations, SAN

I have just read that Femi Falana has been accorded SAN (Senior Advocate of Nigeria). You see, I have been away minding my health. I was happy for him. It has taken such a long time but it has been worth the while, it was never too late.

Femi has taken the Gani Fawehinmi approach. He was fighting for human rights and civil liberties in Nigeria. He has been active in Nigeria and African Bar.

I also missed his award to him by the Hallmarks of Labour Foundation. He was awarded the Gani Fawehinmi Life –Time Achievement award. It was for being the most consistent Advocate for Human Rights and Civil Liberties in Nigeria.

Mails:

Nothing of Interest

Uncle Kola,

Good day. For now there is nothing of interest to study in Yemen, Middle East by Nigerian Muslims | Xtians others than crime and criminality (i.e. terrorism). Quote me.

From Celestine , mnse , frc (Tiger 1)  %Yes%

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Up “Igbo Unity”

Education is the key to development. Past Igbo leaders empowerded only their immediate communities by siting Fed Govt Institution in their village to gain advantage and now they are shouting “Igbo Unity”. Puzzle: Fed Uni Agric, Umudike ( Okpara); UNN Nsukka (Zik); Fed Poly, Uwani (Akanu Ibiam); Fed Poly, Okoh (Ekweme) ;ABSU, Uturu (Ike Nwachukwu); FUTO, Fed Poly ,Nekede  (Legion   of Education Minister from Owerri, through Chinyere Asika’s (Nee Ejiogu) connection Aba Ngwa has never produced Governor or its equivalent since I was born (am 57 years). A whole lush Greenland or 9 LGAS has been wasted, under the pretext of commercial centre with the so-called merchants/ traders behaving like parasites. They prefer P H International Airport which my late poor village mum was compelled to contribute to under late Sam Mbakwe’s Imo state. Why the noise about policy aimed at touching indigenous lives?

Obi Nwakanma of Vanguard and his co Kalu supporters should leave Orji (Abia Gov) alone; assets and liabilities are shared on creation of new state.

—Uche, Warri

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