A Former Director-General of the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Campaign Council , Dr Doyin Okupe, says the proposed single-tenure rotational presidency is a great idea for a developing country like Nigeria.
Okupe, a former presidential spokesman,who made the remark in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos, however,said it should not be approached hastily.
NAN reports that a bill seeking a single term of six years for the President and state governors was brought up recently by 35 members of the House of Representatives.
The bill also canvasses the rotation of the presidency among the six geo-political zones of the country.
Mexico is one of the few countries in the worl operating six-year single tenure presidency .
Reacting, Okupe,a former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC) said that so many things were wrong with the 1999 Constitution despite the amendments it had undergone.
“I don’t think we should do this kind of reform(constitutional amendment) in a haphazard manner . There is so much that is wrong with the constitution we are operating.
“There is so much confusion and contradiction in the 1999 Constitution as prescribed and handed over to us by the military.
“I would rather have us to have a holistic approach to this reform or amendment.
“The six year single tenure for the President and governors is okay in a developing nation like this and I have no objection to it.
“Yes, it is good we can have six years single tenure rotational presidency. However,the rotational part should be clearly stated in the constitution among the six zones,” Okupe said.
He said that the National Assembly should not just review the tenure alone, but must go ahead and do so many other reforms, especially in the electoral system.
According to him , there is also confusion about whether Nigeria is running a federal system or unitary system which any reform must address.
He added that if the nation must have the reform, the presidential system of government must be jettisoned for parliamentary system “where we have a Prime Minister that would be elected by his colleagues from the parliament.”
“The Prime Minister will run the country under the supervision of the elected president .The role of the president will be limited and be very clear.
“And if the people are not satisfied with the prime minister, they can go to the parliament to remove him and put some else.
“This is a country of over 200million, a lot of destinies are involved, there is no need for us to patching and patching it. If the constitution is not okay let us attend to it properly.”
On the 2014 National Conference, Okupe said that the recommendations of the confab,organised by former President Goodluck Jonathan,would have delivered an acceptable constitution,if implemented.
“Everybody agreed and everybody consented. Why don’t we bring that up to have something that is reasonable.
“We just add other issues like this single term rotational presidency.
“And if we are going to do it, the time for it is now. We need to get things corrected once and for all.
“We are where we are because new are just satisfied managing the same constitution that has not helped us,” Okupe said. (NAN)
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Kogi State has condemned the ban on political rallies and convoys imposed by the state government.
State Chairman of SDP, Mr Ahmed Attah, issued the condemnation in a statement signed by the SDP Press Secretary, Isaiah Ijele, on Tuesday in Lokoja.
The party described the ban as an attack on democratic principles and a blatant attempt to silence opposition voices.
Attah urged Gov. Ahmed Ododo to learn from the past and avoid repeating old, harmful practices that have hindered the state’s progress.
“The party views this action as an attempt to suppress the freedom of association and movement enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
Attah insisted that the state is not at war and urged the government to focus on development instead of engaging in political manoeuver.
He warned that Kogi must not return to the dark days of repression, particularly against the opposition. (NAN)
The Presidential Candidate of the defunct National Conscience Party (NCP) in the 2015 general election, Chief Martin Onovo, has said the only unity and emergence of a strong candidate could secure victory for the coalition of opposition leaders in 2027.
Onovo, an activist and Head of Policy Positions, Movement for Fundamental Change (MFC), said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.
He was reacting to the recent announcement of an opposition coalition to challenge the All progressives Congress (APC) in the next presidential election.
Presidential Candidate of the defunct National Conscience Party (NCP) in the 2015 general election, Chief Martin Onovo,
“The coalition of opposition leaders needs a candidate that is vigorous; a strong candidate to brighten its chances in 2027. The coalition needs somebody with a clear agenda and a clear vision.
“The opposition needs a candidate with a strong background of integrity. Nobody is perfect, but you need a strong background of integrity.
“The opposition needs somebody who is morally and mentally competent, and physically fit. The opposition does not need the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar or any old person if it wants to win.
“The opposition doesn’t need any old person now. It is time to use the energy of the young.
“They must present a strong candidate, who is strong morally, mentally, and physically, with a clear patriotic agenda to move the country forward, ” Onovo said.
He added that the coalition had a lot that could work to its advantage in 2027 and urged members to work with unity of purpose to achieve convincing victory.
Also speaking on chances of the ruling party in 2027, the politician said APC could remain in power if the challenges arising from subsidy removal and other economic issues were addressed by the present administration.
He also said President Bola Tinubu still had the opportunity to address the security challenges in the country to win in 2027 ,and remain in power ,if interested
Onovo, who noted that he was not part of the organisers of the mega coalition, said that he had always been part of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) since 2019 elections.
He called on all Nigerians to unite for the development of the country, ensuring leadership that would fulfill the country’s aspirations.
NAN recalls that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, had recently announced the formation of a coalition, aimed at unseating Tinubu in 2027.
Atiku made the declaration during a press conference in Abuja, attended by several opposition politicians, including former APC members.
Among those present at the even were the 2023 Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, represented by Dr Yunusa Tanko; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal and a former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai. (NAN)
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River on Monday granted Gov. Bassey Otu and his deputy, Mr Peter Odey, an automatic ticket for the 2027 general election.
Speaking at the APC Secretariat in Calabar, the party’s Chairman, Mr Alphonsus Eba, urged other party members aspiring for political positions to begin their consultations.
Eba clarified that apart from the governor and his deputy, no other individual had been given an automatic ticket by the party.
He encouraged other aspirants to return to their constituents and seek their support ahead of the elections.
“The State Working Committee and the State Executive Committee of APC met today and resolved that Governor Otu will be the party’s sole candidate in 2027,” he said.
He explained that the decision was based on the principle of continuity, stating, “Nobody changes a winning team. The governor and his deputy will fly the party’s flag in 2027.”
He added that even if Otu was reluctant to run, the party would still present only one ticket with his name, as was done in 2022.
“We appeal to him to listen to the desires of party members and accept the nomination,” Eba stated.
He also praised the deputy governor, currently acting as governor, for supporting President Bola Tinubu’s actions in Rivers.
Eba noted that some individuals had misrepresented the state’s position. He commended the acting governor for clarifying that South-South governors had not consulted him before opposing Tinubu’s decision.
He applauded the President for restoring peace in Rivers, preventing a political crisis. (NAN)
