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The House of Representatives last week rejected a bill seeking a six-year single term for the president and the governors. The 34 legislators that sponsored the bill said they would re-present the bill.
In this report, some Nigerians bare their minds on the issue.
Four-year tenure is good – Chief Ugondo Tov, kindred head of Wurukum; Makurdi
In Nigeria, we are practising the presidential system of government and it is the view of the simple majority that holds. So, if 34 members of the National Assembly have sponsored a bill and the majority has rejected it, they have nothing to do. With the four-year term, if you’re lucky and have served your people well and they love you, you can re-contest and be elected again to spend eight years. So to me, there is no need to re-present it. Doing that is causing and inciting crises in the National Assembly.
We should go for single term of five years – Rev Akpen Leva, ex CAN chairman, Benue; Makurdi
Having a single term would solve a lot of issues and personally I will suggest it should be a single term of five years, not six years. You see it will avoid this tension that comes in during second term campaign, which is sometimes violent. You go for a single term, you serve and you go and another person comes in.
In the universities, vice chancellors have a single term of five years, they will do and they will go. So, I prefer a single term and I think it’s a good move. That bill should be re-presented for hearing.
Six-year single term best for Nigeria- Comrade Solomon Orukpe-Idiogbe, activist; Benin
The idea of a six-year single term for both the president and the governors would have been the best thing to happen in this country. A country where two terms of eight years has become the order of the day, and those in government use it as an opportunity to steal public funds. It is my opinion that the National Assembly should not only represent the bill, but should also restrict the number of times a legislator is eligible to contest for both the state and the National Assembly so as to regulate and curtail the excesses of politicians, who have made politics as a business and major means of survival.
Tenure shouldn’t be an issue -Hon. John Yakubu, politician; Benin
It is not about the issue of tenure, but it is about doing the right thing. Nigerians must learn to do the right thing at all times. Any politician, either governor or local governmentk chairman that wants to impact on the lives of his people will not consider the number of years he has to spend in the office to do what he needs to do. So, that is why I said it is all about mindset.
Single term of six-year tenure is reasonable – Enefaa Georgewill, activist; Port Harcourt
I think the proposed bill is a reasonable one to the extent that it is going to promote national integration. It is going to help in reducing unnecessary cost of elections. But, it won’t solve the myriad of problems of corruption.
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There are fundamental issues like accountability, probity and rule of law. That’s the reason some of us (activists) are saying that, while we recommend the proposed bill, we would be asking the National Assembly to do the needful, especially on bills that are going to tame executive recklessness, because, even if you have a 16-year tenure and those who come on board don’t give account tor don’t follow the rule of law, it is useless.
Single term of four years is good – Mrs. Anita Ogona, journalist; Port Harcourt
For me, they should be looking at a single term of four years, not six years, knowing the corrupt ingredient Nigerian politicians are made up of. They have nothing to offer anymore other than to enrich their pockets.
So, four or three years are enough looting period for them to scoop free from the national pot and give way for others to come and also scoop.
A single term of six years for president and governorship candidates is too long a time for Nigerians to endure bad governors or president or any leadership that will spell doom and misery to the populace because these politicians want to always perpetuate themselves and families in Nigeria’s political space. They have nothing new to offer other than emasculating the poor.
Six-year single term not good for Nigeria – Rev Emmanuel Olorunmagba, cleric; Kaduna
I am happy that the bill was rejected by the National Assembly. Six-year single term is not good at all for Nigeria. In fact, it’s not good for any Africa country where it’s difficult for political leaders to be held accountable. In most times, it’s towards the tail end of the first term of some political leaders that they will wake up to try to do something just because they will want to seek, second term. Therefore, plan for second term in office is only the thing that makes some political leaders do something tangible for the people. So, if they know that they won’t need to seek second term in power and they will have complete six years in office. Many will only seek their interest and those around them from the beginning of their tenure to the end. Therefore, since the second term has become a bait to get some of them to do something, and is also an opportunity for the masses to show their displeasure vividly for those who failed woefully, it’s better not to change it for now.
Six-year single term will work for Nigeria -Adeola Seun, fire and safety officer; Abeokuta
I’m in total support of the proposed bill of a six-year single term for both the president and the governors. In my own opinion, this current two-term system has not yielded the results for us as a nation. Most of these governors, if you observe, work to impress the electorate in order to covet their votes in the second term.
And once they get re-elected, they run out of steam. They are either busy looting the treasury or fighting tooth and nail to impose their successors, most of the time, their stooges, on the people.
Dividends of democracy should be the issue, not term – Kanyinsola Basit, student; Abeokuta
I am not interested in the number of terms being spent in office by the president and governor, but the ability of those elected into public offices to deliver good governance to Nigerians. Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration tried to put the six-year single term in our constitution, but it was shot down.
You know, many of the beneficiaries of the eight years in office would always ensure that the proposed single term does not see the light of the day. For me, I want dividends of democracy to be enjoyed by the people, whether single or double term in office.
