BY CHIOMA GABRIEL
Discordant tunes have continued to trail President Goodluck Jonathan’s proposed 6-year single term for elected president and governors with many suspecting  the president has hidden agenda. Alhaji Balarabe Musa , former governor of old Kaduna  state told Saturday Vanguard that the agenda if accepted, the proposal could alter the 2015 elections.

“If his proposal is accepted, you will be surprised that  before 2015, he will declare another intention to declare for 2015 Presidency.  If the PDP could not accept the zoning system, they would definitely not  accept excluding Jonathan in 2015.

So, what will happen is that just like he did in 2011, he will do in 2015. He has not demonstrated any confidence that he will complete his current tenure and he is already talking about  2015. This  government is controlled by money powers.

He could want to use money to achieve his agenda but Nigerians should ensure he doesn’t bastardise our constitution and Nigeria’s politics. He has already bribed the governors and the National Assembly by saying they too should benefit and that tells you he has a hidden agenda.”

For Bawa Bwari, ACN, governorship candidate in Niger State, the problem with the 6 year- single tenure has to do with elongation, and not the concept.

“ It’s the elongation there that is the problem. What do you want me to say?

For any responsible government, there are so many issues that should be a priority. This issue of single term tenure is a distraction. If it’s for patriotic reasons, it will be good but there is a question mark for first term governors. Secondly, Nigerians don’t trust Jonathan  because of what happened with zoning. People will not believe he is doing it for patriotic reasons.”

Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, one -time political adviser to former president Obasanjo said there is something wrong in the name but not in the proposal.

“ What the issue is all about is a single term in executive office holding. When  we were in the national political reform conference, we considered five , six and seven years single tenure before we eventually pegged it at seven  years for president and governors. Some people are suspicious because the  introduction of the proposal is not being properly managed. Whose tenure is being elongated ?  Nobody’s.

The merit in this single tenure issue is that when an incumbent is going for a second term, there is the tendency for him  to influence the outcome of the election. The point being made with this 6 year single term  is to minimise the influence of the incumbent office holder by making him not go for another tenure in office. This proposal did not originate from Jonathan but from  senior citizens who attended the  political reform conference.

The only  demerit there is having to suffer a bad governor or president for an extra two years which is better than having a bad governor or president for another four years. But like I said, this is not Jonathan’s proposal but that of Nigeria’s senior citizens who have no political ambition and would not benefit anything from it.”.

Speaking on the issue, Chief Olu Falae described president Jonathan’s clamour as a surprise. “ It is quite  a shock that President Jonathan considered 6 year- single tenure as  a priority area.

I am surprised and disappointed. Besides, it’s something he should make consultations about before throwing it out in the open.. What Jonathan should concern himself with now is articulating what he should be doing for Nigeria, how to  tackle insecurity, infrastructure, education and Boko Haram but he is talking about tenure.”