Is It Third Or Fourth Term What Do We Call It?

By

Babandi Gumel

bagumel@btinternet.com

 

 

All those totally committed to the third term the new fashionable trailing Agenda and those opposed not associated with the so-called hidden subtle trend both are making effort to come terms with the trying time the country finds itself due to the timing of the term which is fast approaching. Ticking ticks the fast moving clock the topic of the controversial term which is becoming another “ Tazarce” an indigenous African rather continental solution than borrowed imperial democratic freedom seen as taboo  gaining mome ntum as one of the hottest controversial provocative topics now on the table ready to be served to Nigerians. The proposals on the menu changing of the constitution that would enable the President to continue in Office after May 2007 are hotly being discussed by the proponents and the opponents in the whole Country.

 

Wherever you go the North or the South East or West the topic of the day which is becoming fashionable is the current controversial third term extendable trend seen by some others as taboo which President Obasanjo has cleverly refused to be drawn neither confirmed nor denied leaving his subjects discussing .Unfortunately the masses are left arguing among themselves as to whether the constitution could be altered seen as manipulation only the ordinary Nigerians are seriously engaged in the discussion of the so called “tazarce” Agenda. Those who are in favour led by Senator I brahim Mantu the Deputy Senate President on one hand and the oppositions combined all with different views on how to challenge this idea which many people see as unconstitutional and therefore has no basis is causing division. A High Court has even decided to halt the effort made by Ibrahim Mantu to sell the idea to Nigerians in different parts of the Country in a forum convened to discuss some of the constitutional changes proposed. The Lawyer who attempted to carry out the court’s order was reported to have been forcefully prevented from handing the courts order to   Mantu by the security personnel which he expressed ignorance about the matter. This has caused even the Nigerian lawyers to go on two-day strike to protest against the dictatorial tendencies of the Government which they see as disobeying court order. Well as the saying goes  power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolute ly and The Hausas confirm the saying “ Kowa ya samu rana sai yayi shanya” meaning whoever finds sun should ( take the opportunity to) dry his clothes .One interesting thing about this debate on whether to amend the constitution to give the President another chance to continue ruling the Country for another term which the generality of Nigerians see as Third Term is now the topic of discussion every where in the Media among the intellectual circles as well as ordinary Nigerians. To me as far as we are concerned come 2007 whether the President is going to continue or not  defending on your camp whether one of the proponents or opponents the so called Additional term Agenda has definitely divided and  polarised the Country  . Those in favour are desperately making all out effort to sell the agenda to the general public while those opposing the controversi al hidden agenda which is becoming more and more open are putting their best like salesmen to enlighten the public on the affair seen by some as scandalous.

 

Whatever you may say about the matter whether in favour or not it only concerns you more as ordinary citizen more than it concerns the President who continues to remain silent not saying anything that may implicate him. So it is only those who are in the corridor of power are daily struggling and making all out effort to sell the idea to Nigerians while the opponents remain consistently opposed to the idea seen as abhorrent making both parties to be at the throat of each other. The controversial saga which is daily becoming hotter and hotter is polarising the Nigerian populace the pro and the Anti Agenda Camps. So Mr Wise President General Obasanjo (Rtd) as usual decided not to be drawn in the controversy therefore cannot be accused neither condemned nor praised on the issue as he refused to confirm or deny. So he has left all Nigerians in a kind of limbo every one trying to guess what the President is going to do come May 2007. In the meantime only Allah knows what will happen in the future as no body knows except Him the knower of Visible and Invisible Allah who knows the future come May 2007 .The question that people may be asking is whether the President going to handle the mantle of power to his successor or is he going to continue in office? 

 

Unfortunately at the present moment every is only beating about the bush guessing making us complete ignorant unable to provide substantive answer to what he is going to do so only the President has the answer to the question but again he cleverly and consistently refused to be drawn on the controversy. The only hypothesis I may like to put forward is if (Capital IF) he honourably hands over power to his successor whoever may be so it means he has completed his extended term which could be equated as the third term.  Logically or rather theoretically speaking as a lay Nigerian come May 2007 The President may have completed his third Term, but constitutionally those in the corridor of power and the proponents would argue passionately as this is his second term as generally implied now a days.

 

Anyhow whatever you may call it second or third term come 2007 if the President leaves office or not as far as we are concerned it has made him the longest serving President or Head of State to serve the Country since gaining independence enjoying a total of more than eleven years as Commander in Chief. He served the Nation diligently after the sudden assassination of General Murtala Muhammad his former Boss in February 1976 when he took over the mantle of power and continued steering the Country till August 1979 when he handed over power to Civilian under Shehu Shagari. He came back to power which Allah gave Him from his prison Cell like Yusuf Joseph in 1 999 making it his second term and was re-elected for his virtual third term in 2003 and would continue until his term ends in May next year which has generated the controversy . Whichever way you view it constitutionally or unconstitutionally defending which side you support his opponents see as controversial while the proponents see as God given the debate continues till May next year.

 

Nigerians are at present fully engaged in the debate of the so called changes being proposed in the constitution which the opponents see as unconstitutional done with wrong intention only meant to elongate the President’s rule. So in short whether he continues to which if he does would be regarded as fourth and not third term as many Nigerians have implied forgetting that he served one term as Military Leader selected by few Nigerians and two terms as Civilian President elected by majority of Nigerians therefore considered another term regarded as the fourth and not the third as others want us to believe. As far as we are concerned even if you rule the Country for a day you would be regarded as a leader and would go in history as one of those leaders who governed or ruled them as to whether one is good or bad it would only be judged by the posterity The point I want make or draw the attention of every one is we should stop calling this as third term rather we should name it the fourth literally not constitutionally as some people may point out. Some people may agree while others may disagree and say what are you talking? Well as I said earlier is a kind of hypothesis which is turning to be right I stand to be corrected.  Nothing but the truth for God sake what shall we call the next term after 2007 third or fourth term. It is left for Nigerians to decide not impose it on them may be it could be decided through referendum if the worse comes to worse that we have to change the constitution by all means . But whatever happens General/President Obasanjo would continue to be seen as the longest serving Military/Civilian Leader Elder Statesman who if he relinquishes power willingly would go in history as veteran and the champion of democracy one who honours and upholds the Nigerian constitution that he has pledged to protect which would add to his credibility and his own interest .

 

He was known as one who keeps promise like a Murtala his former Boss. A gentleman always fulfils promise which would be an honour to our nascent democracy by justifying the confidence reposed in him by Nigerians .A Hausa saying goes like this “Ba a mugun sarki sai mugun bafade” So our President should be very careful to advice given by his advisors who sometimes only advice for their own selfish interest so let him listen to the ordinary Nigerian rather than his close associates.  In the meantime keeping quite as an indirect subtle way of talking leaving every one guessing theref ore he can neither be accused nor praised for what he has not said. We are confident something positive would soon come out from his tongue that would allay the apprehension and unnecessary fear causing division among Nigerians. In the meantime it is only us the commoners who have continued to debate about the future of the President who has made friends as well as opponents during his eleven year intermittent Rule Military/Civilian between 1976-2007.