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Senator Jibrin Aminu And The Third Term Project By Zayyad I. Muhammad The third term issue is today an open monumental political scam in Nigeria, both the proponents and the antagonists of the agenda have all sorts of raison d'ętre for promoting or fighting in opposition to the project; the general believe among Nigerians is, the principal driver of the agenda, president Obasanjo, is nursing the plot for two reasons: the irresistibility of parting with power associated with most African leaders and the panic of post power life; while some of the proponents of the third term agenda are promoting the agenda solely for the enormous financial gain attached to the project; others, for the gain of more years in the corridors of authority, to some , it is an opportunity to be shield from EFCC , to others, it a golden opportunity to established a political influence and a chance to realize some long-drawn-out personal longing; painfully, senator Aminu belongs to the later. There is no qualm senator Aminu is a fine lettered man, and grown-up amidst a well cultured people, but when it comes to politics and public choice the man is nothing but controversies and flops. The so-called PDP linkmen are the ‘instruments’ that took the third term agenda to States that powers that be know, the Governors at those States would not concede to the sit tight plot. To senator Aminu, the third term agenda is a big contract! The linkman status is an opportunity for the senator to accomplished his long illusive dream in Adamawa- a dream for political influence and relevance, a venture that has started to disintegrating, the rousing reception accorded to vice president Atiku at Yola Airport was a big disappointment to senator Aminu, funnily, in a bit save himself from his master’s annoyance over his inability to stop such a rousing reception accorded Atiku, the senator announced the suspension of vice president Atiku and Gov. Boni of Adamawa state from the PDP, failing to remember that the masses were applauding a stand for democracy not the vice president as a person; Atiku acknowledged that on his interview with the BBC Hausa service after the incident. A glimpse through the list of advocates of the third term agenda, one would be traumatized and taken-aback, by noticing the level of involvement of some senior Nigerian citizens, individuals who Nigeria had spent a lot of resources on them from their primary education to their present status in the society. This writer shares the opinion that the third term con, is a kind of ‘item ‘ brought by the Almighty to help Nigerians to truly identify genuine democrats, not like hitherto, where one’s level of academics, assertion on democracy and family background do count. It is hurting and heart-bleeding to see our senior citizens who should have been in the vanguard of protecting Nigeria’s hard earn democracy, are in full of activities determinedly trying to subvert pluralistic and representative democracy, just for the reason of colossal greediness, rough ambitions and brazen fear, though, of late, blackmail has considerably become a cardinal tool use by Obasanjo to get what he want from people; but democracy is beyond enjoying its dividend, when it is threaten, one has to save it, what ever the price may be; surprisingly, despite the multitude of Nigerians from all segment of live who are doggedly fighting for democracy a multitude of old generation politicians are busy seeding a authoritarianism on our beloved nation. Why is senator Aminu comfortably sitting in the third term vehicle without a muse? Is there any likelihood that the senator will one day make a turnaround? This is a thorny and equally an interesting question; the senator may not shift his position if one is to take into account his rigidity and the likings to doing things within the circle of his desire; this was first manifested during his tenure as vice chancellor university of Maiduguri, where he wrote boldly on his office desk ‘ DO IT MY WAY’ and when some students union leaders protested against some of his policies, they got outright expulsion from the university, but as destiny cannot be change, most of those that got the expulsion are today prominent individual- one is a first class chief in Adamawa, another is a member in Adamawa state house of assembly, another is a deputy commissioner of police, another who is late, was twice a former chairman of a local government in Adamawa; while some of his victims went to US to study, among them is a son of a former supreme court judge from the Niger Delta. In politics senator Aminu have predilection for betrayals, proclivity to controversies and instinct with Ironic twist, we may wake –up one day and hear a different say on the third term project from the senator’s mouth. During Abacha organized constitutional assembly, when politicking and political maneuverings were at their heights, the Yar’adua group held a meeting in Katsina, in attendance were stake holders of the people front (PF), senator Aminu was present at the meeting, but after some strong signals emerged, that Sola Saraki, who was then the Constitutional Assembly, Business Committee Chairman was more closer to the Abacha government, senator Aminu without notice left the Yar’adua group and joined Sola Saraki to formed the committee for National Consensus (C. N. C), but the senator later try all he could to destroyed Sola Saraki so that he will be more closer to Abacha. Senator Aminu teamed up with Mahmud Waziri and IBB to formed the peoples’ congress; but realization felt short of expectation, the senator realized that the then G34 is becoming more stronger and it has most of the important bigwigs of politics in Nigeria, senator Aminu mutely left the peoples’ congress, to the surprised of many, professor Aminu just surfaced, standing stranded during the launching of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (P. D. P.) at eagle square; one interesting aspect about the event was, it was raining. The third term project is triggered by the love for power and patronage while to sycophants and place-hunters it is a big business; it is time we start helping some people to reason with their Heads, not with their Hearts. Zayyad I. Muhammad writes from Jimeta, Nigeria
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