By Lydia Ngwakwe
Lagos – Some politicians on Wednesday reacted differently to the call by Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu for a six-year single tenure for elected public officers in the country.
Some of the politicians told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in interviews that the idea was wonderful while others said that the disadvantage outweighed the advantage.
NAN reports that Ekweremadu had on Dec. 15 in Nsukka, Enugu State, said that a six-year single tenure would promote unity and loyalty to the nation, and stop problems arising from the quest for a second-term.
Chief Martin Onovo, a former Presidential Candidate of National Conscience Party, described the idea as brilliant.
He said: “With additional measures such as strict adherence to the rule of law, we can mitigate second-term desperation, reduce distractions to governance, conserve funds and improve the quality of our elections.’’
A former National Commissioner of Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Lai Olurode, also hailed the call for a single tenure of six years.
He said: “I support Ekweremadu for two reasons. The first is that Nigeria is over-politicised; a number of elected officials begin to do politics with their positions before the middle of their term.
“The time they spend on governance is very minimal; thus, governance suffers.
“Secondly, the constitution allowing you to succeed yourself means that you can resort to all kinds of things including violence to ensure that you checkmate your closest rival.
“But once you know that you cannot spend more than a term, you can spend more time on governance.
“ I think it will be a lot better if it is a single term of six years; the advantages are more than the disadvantages.’’
According to Olurode, it is not the length of time that an officer spend in office that determines whether he will achieve much, but the commitment.
The Lagos State Secretary-General of Inter-Party Advisory Council, Mr Shola Omolola, said that Ekweremadu’s call was good but needed constitutional support.
“The reasons he gave are solid, which are that it will stop the quest for second term and give room for rotation of presidency among the six geo political zones.
“But, as valid as the reasons maybe, I think it is a constitutional issue. He should initiate a bill and try to convince the senate to adopt this idea.
“I am sure the senate will not be poised to adopt this position anyway,’’ Omolola said.
However, Dr Yunusa Tanko, a former National Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) condemned the idea.
According to him, the disadvantages of the single tenure are more than the advantages.
“The six-year single tenure may not make elected officers to strive to do more.
“What will likely happen is that the moment one gets elected; he will see it as an opportunity to do what he feels like doing.
“ He will not be dedicated; he will not work toward having another term by doing a good job.
“The level of impunity will be high,’’ Tanko said.
A former Presidential Candidate of KOWA Party, Prof. Oluremi Sonaiya, said that the idea was a distraction.
“ We have more urgent issues that need to be quickly addressed.
“How about the persistent calls for restructuring? When are we going to attend to it? Sonaiya asked. (NAN)