KWENU: Our Culture, Our Future

Nigerians in America unite to oppose third term plot

Thursday, January 5, 2006

Nigerians in the Diaspora have sheathed their swords to unite against the alleged third term plot for President Olusegun Obasanjo to remain in office after his second term. They have galvanized to bring global awareness of the plot and international pressure on OBJ not to be lured into such a suicidal mission. It is generally believed that a third term for OBJ is inimical to Nigeria’s democracy.

Against this backdrop, groups of Nigerian organizations rallied recently with one voice in two U.S. locations—the Nigerian Consulate at 828 2^nd Ave (Corner of 2^nd Ave & 44^th St, NYC) and Dag Hamasjoud Plaza, in Front of United Nations Gate on North Side (Corner of 1^st Ave and 47^th Street, NYC)—against President Olusegun Obasanjo’s alleged third term plot. The groups that participated in the rally were Nigerians United for True Democracy (NUTD), Nigerian Political Action Committee (NIPAC), and Nigerian Alliance for Democracy (NAD). Additionally, Democracy Task Force (DTF), and African Alliance for Development (AAD), Nigerian Affairs Interest Group (NAIG), Advocates for Good Governance (AGG), Unique International, Inc., MASSOB, Inc., and Pan Nigeria Democratic Movement (PANDEM) participated in the rally. They asked Nigerians and international community to stand vehemently against the third term plot and any impending constitutional amendment to actualize it.

The groups’ spokesperson, Mr. Austin Uzodike, former Secretary General of World Igbo Congress (WIC), sent the following statement:

“Driven by visions of political grandeur and perpetual power, segments of Nigeria’s political establishment have hatched a plot to extend the tenure of office of the Nigerian President and State Governors.  The National Assembly’s Joint Constitution Review Committee has a sub-committee, which has just recommended three terms of four years each for the presidency, governors, etc. These third term schemers, as they are called, have a game-plan to retain political power in Nigeria indefinitely.  If their strategy is allowed to succeed, it will spell doom for Nigeria’s political landscape.”

“Chagrined and alarmed by this ominous development, several Nigerian political activists, civic/cultural associations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), friends of Nigeria, etc., have resolved to challenge this third term plot and nip it from the bud.  These third term schemers must be made to cease and desist forthwith, before they push the Nigerian polity down the slippery slope of crisis and consequent conflagration.  The sanctity of the 1999 constitution must be maintained!!!”

“Nigerians in Diaspora are fed up with the laundry list of anomalies in the country. One case in point is the selective prosecution and persecution of “political enemies” of President Obasanjo and some political activists who are insisting on the preservation of the interests of their ethnic nationalities including their rights to self-determination.”

Chief Uzodike also informed Champion Newspapers that the groups plan to rally again against the third term scheme in February 2006 in Washington, D.C.

Similarly, Pan Ndi Igbo Foundation USA, Inc. issued a press statement entitled, "Ndi-Igbo under the auspices of Pan Ndi-Igbo Foundation (PNF USA) strongly condemn any third term plot",  that appositely captured the sentiments of Nigerians in the Diaspora on the issue of alleged third term scheme. The excerpts:

"Mr. President, please stop this madness now." These are the words that echoed at the recently concluded emergency meeting of the stakeholders of Pan Ndi-Igbo Foundation (PNF USA), the political action group headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

While the President may mean well for Nigeria, we find it very troubling that he would allow this third term fire to continue to burn. By not acting to quench this fire, the President is encouraging those who are agitating and plotting to undermine the constitution that brought this democracy to birth. We strongly urge the President to speak out unequivocally that he would not seek a third term and, go further by stopping his alleged supporters who are mischievously canvassing for Nigeria's destruction. Mr. President holds the fire extinguisher to stop this fire.

Pan Ndi-Igbo Foundation (PNF USA) is unequivocally against any scheme to have President Olusegun Obasanjo go for a third term after 2007. We’re encouraging well-meaning Nigerians and organizations to stand firm against third term plot. The third term idea or plan should be shelved immediately for the progress of democracy in Nigeria. Nigeria could not afford to have its nascent democracy impeded because of venal and selfish actions.

Currently, the 1999 Constitution stipulates a maximum of two terms of four years for the president and state governors in section 137 (1) (b) of the 1999 Constitution which  stipulates the following, “a person shall not be qualified for election to the office of President if he has been elected to such office at any two previous elections.” Also, Section 182 (1) (b) of the 1999 Constitution clearly stipulates that: “No person shall be qualified for election to the office of Governor of a state if ...he has been elected to such office at any two previous elections”. Some governors are behind the scene supporting the agitation for the third term plot because they too would be the beneficiary. It behooves well-meaning Nigerians to question why some people should attempt to tinker with the provisions of the constitution for their own whims and caprices—for their own selfish interests. Nigeria is a nation and is not the property of a few groups of individuals who would stop at nothing to accomplish their narrow interests. It’s left for the rest of us to resist with every means available to ensure that democracy flourishes in Nigeria. Nigeria should stand firm against this third term plot.

Third term bid is unconscionable and undemocratic. It is a means for a few to truncate our democracy and undermine our collective conscience.

To allow the national Assembly to even scheme to undermine this provision is criminal. What are these people thinking? That the President will be in office forever? What guarantees that the next President would not also amend the constitution to allow for a fourth term? 

Eight years is enough for any one person, no matter how well deserving the person is. President Bill Clinton was very good for America and was leading the country to its most prosperous state in history. The constitution set a term limit and every President in America respects that, no matter how well or bad they performed in office or what agenda they proposed and want to accomplish before leaving office. Nigeria will be better without this third term madness. Mr. President should be careful of those who claim to support a third term agenda. These people are Nigeria's worst enemies and should be ostracized by the society. The biggest achievement of this administration will be when it hands over to a democratically and duly elected President in 2007.

Democracy works well when the constitution is adhered to. There is no good reason to sabotage this new constitution that just started. When nothing is broken, why try to fix it. Let us not set a dangerous precedent that will plunge the country into a more confused state.

Leading democracies around the world allow their citizens living abroad to participate in the elections of the home countries. These countries have been doing so and have made provision for her citizens residing at different points in the world participate in their elections and we believe that Nigeria should join in the league of countries that give every of their citizens the opportunity and right to speak with his/her vote. Again, PNF USA is asking the legislature to enact this into law and give the President the authority to prepare Nigerian Embassies and Consulates overseas to handle the next election coming in 2007.

PNF-USA is also asking the legislature to give a top priority attention to this matter since it will take some time to put in place all the logistics needed to have a good and reliable ballot returns from overseas.

We are calling on the president and the legislature to use their leadership to act on this onus matter; to make immediate provisions for Nigerian citizens abroad to register and vote during gubernatorial and presidential elections.

Despite the tirade against the alleged third term stratagem, there are some Nigerians who see the whole thing as a ploy to confuse the opponents of the ruling party for political advantage. In view of the above, Dr. Okenwa Nwosu, a practicing physician in the USA, opined:

The speculation about Obasanjo's third-term presidential quest is more of a red herring as far as I am concerned. I don't believe that Obasanjo is that daft as to impose his presence in Aso Rock beyond the two-term tenure that he has been blessed to serve. He has, so far, done quite well in enhancing his self image globally that any speculation of deliberately trampling on all his positive accomplishments, in quest for extended stay at Aso Rock, makes little sense to me. Obasanjo shall not remain in Aso Rock beyond 2007. “The reason for his reticence, despite all the speculations about his supposed intent  has more to do with partisan political calculation within the ruling party, the PDP, than the incumbent president's alleged hidden agenda. This is partisan politics Nigerian style as far as I am concerned.”

Whatever the motives of the schemers of third term plot, no right-thinking and well-meaning Nigerian would want anything that would truncate our nascent democracy, especially when the memories of the atrocious actions of dictators are still fresh and indelible.