House of Reps Plan To End President, Governors’ Second Term

The citizenry is sharply divided over the six-year Single Term Presidency and the Governorship Bill is now before the House of Representatives.

The Bill, seeking a single term of six years for the president and state governors, was brought up, last Monday, by 35 members of the House of Representatives.

It also canvasses the rotation of the presidency among the six geopolitical zones of the country and the provision for a second vice president.

Speaking at the National Assembly Complex, the lawmakers, who are also called ‘The Reformers’, said they have introduced the Bill among others on the floor of the House.

Ikenga Ugochinyere (PDP, Imo), a member of the group, said the proposed alterations aim to address agitations from different parts of the country, reduce the cost of governance and promote unity.

Should the Bill succeed as part of the current effort to review the Constitution, a single tenure of six years for the president and governors will replace the current regime whereby the public office holders are entitled to two terms of four years each (eight years).

The Bill is generating anxiety in the House of Representatives as some members, when contacted declined to speak, stating that it was a sensitive matter and would not want to comment on it yet.

Deputy Chairman of a Committee, who did not want to be quoted, said, “I am not a party to that Bill and whatever my position is will be said on the floor of the chamber”.

However, a cross-section of Nigerians is divided over the proposal.

While some opposed the Bill, saying it would worsen graft, some supported it and enumerated its merits.

For instance, the Conference of United Political Parties, CUPP, said the major problem of the country now is the lack of purposeful leadership not tenure of political office holders.

Supporting the Bill, an octogenarian, Pa Dele Alake, said it would be a welcome development if passed into law.

His words: “The single term of six years will set the country on a more reliable foundation that will bring a lot of advantages. So, some of our leaders who are deadwood will have to vacate the seat when the six years lapse

“But, it will create some confusion at the outset. For instance, which of the six zones will be the first? Is it going to be after the expiration of President Tinubu’s first term or when?

“If it’s after the first term, that means it will start from the Southern part of the country because it will be cheating if the South is not allowed to completeits eight years. I’m sure the North will not allow it if they are the ones governing the country now.”

We need purposeful leadership – CUPP

CUPP spokesperson, High Chief Peter Ameh, said: “What we have now is good enough if we have purposeful leadership to drive it. “Even if we return to regional government today what we will have is the decentralization of corruption.

“What we should be looking at is putting in place appropriate sanctions for those who loot the treasury and deny citizens the becessities of life.

“No matter the system you have in place, if those who are to drive it lack sincerity, it will take us nowhere.”