Atiku proposes six-year single tenure rotational presidency

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has recommended a single-term of six years for future Nigeria’s President, which should be rotational among the six geopolitical zones of the federation.

Atiku’s proposals, addressed to the Deputy President of the Senate and Chairman, Senate Committee on Constitution Review, Senator Barau Jibrin, and dated August 30, 2024, also contained recommendations such as procedures for the educational qualification of candidate(s) in elections, internal democracy in political parties and rotation of presidential position among the six geo-political zones of the country.

In a document obtained, the former vice president said Section 135(2) of the Nigerian Constitution should be amended to read: “Subject to the provisions of the subsection (1), the President shall vacate his office at the expiration of a period of six years commencing from the date.

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In the explanatory note covering the proposals, Atiku said the amendments sought in the review of the constitution were aimed at seeking to raise the standard of the educational qualification of political office seekers, and an end to violent takeover of political parties, thereby strengthening the internal structure of political parties.

Others are to reduce the tendencies of political parties to breach the constitution, the Electoral Act, rules and guidelines made thereunder, and the constitution of the political party.

He said: “The implication of the above is that political parties are allowed very wide latitude to breach the perimeter of laws on elections.

“Such indiscipline by political parties and infidelity to the electoral parameters yield chaos in the system. The above amendments will enthrone the discipline that is needed in a democracy.”
He said that the recommendations he has put forth to the National Assembly for amendments in the country’s election laws were areas where there were pitfalls in the subsisting laws regulating elections in Nigeria.

Atiku proposes six-year single tenure rotational presidency

Hire military contractors to wipe out Boko Haram, Ndume tells Tinubu

Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider hiring military contractors to eliminate Boko Haram insurgents in Borno State.

While praising the military and the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) ‘s efforts, Ndume emphasized that they lack the equipment necessary to fully defeat the remaining terrorists.

“Governments worldwide use military contractors in specific operations,” Ndume said. He suggested that these contractors, working alongside the military and CJTF, could swiftly wipe out Boko Haram.

He also mentioned their potential use in the fight against bandits in the North West.

Ndume proposed this as a short-term solution, stating that the federal government could focus on recruiting up to a million young Nigerians into the military over time. For now, he believes hiring contractors is crucial.

His call followed a recent Boko Haram attack in Ngoshe, Gwoza Local Government Area, where six farmers were killed, and five others, including women, were kidnapped.

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Filibus Yakubu, a local councillor, confirmed the attack and noted that many villagers were still missing. He added that despite their efforts, the military and CJTF could not repel the attackers, and among the casualties was a CJTF commander, Jubril Dada Zarana.

The attack came weeks after another Boko Haram bombing, which claimed the lives of several civilians and injured many more. According to Yakubu, the terrorists targeted farmers while they were working in their fields.

He said, “The Army and CJTF did their best, but they couldn’t hold the attackers for long.”

Three women released by Boko Haram provided information on the recent events. The released captives said that the terrorists were still holding other victims. On Independence Day, a time typically associated with celebration, Yakubu described the situation as one of “sorrow, despair, and helplessness.”

He expressed the dire conditions in Ngoshe and surrounding villages, where residents face a lack of essential supplies. Despite this, they remain in their homeland, bound by their deep love for the region. Local farming, their primary means of survival, has become increasingly dangerous due to Boko Haram’s activities.

Yakubu concluded by appealing for aid, saying, “Only God can save the people of Ngoshe and nearby villages like Gava, Amuda, Chinene, and others.”

Hire military contractors to wipe out Boko Haram, Ndume tells Tinubu

Rivers govt declares Thursday, Friday public holidays for LG poll

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has declared Thursday and Friday as public holidays to enable residents of the state to travel to their various communities ahead of the Saturday local government elections.

The governor also announced restriction of vehicular movement from midnight on Friday, October 4 to 5pm on the election day.

Governor Fubara made the declaration in a statewide broadcast from Government House, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday.

He said following the expiration of the three-year tenure of the chairmen and councilors of the 23 local government councils on June 17, 2023, he lawfully instituted caretaker committees to temporarily administer the councils pending when the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) would conduct the LG election in the state.

The governor said as a move to entrench sustainable democracy and good governance in the country’s local government system, “the Supreme Court by its judgement in SC/CV/343/2024: A-G Federation v A-G Abia State and 35 Ors delivered on 11th July 2024 effectively outlawed the administration of our local government councils with unelected officers and made several orders including the immediate stoppage of statutory allocations to Local Government Councils without democratically elected local government councils.”

He said following Mr President’s intervention, the period for compliance with the Supreme Court’s judgment was graciously extended by three months, which will expire on October 31, 2024.

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He said, “On the strength of these positive developments, I directed the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to take definite steps to conduct local government elections for the 23 local government councils of Rivers State.

“Acting per this directive the RSIEC has since fixed and concluded all arrangements to conduct the local government council elections on Saturday, 5th October 2024.

“The legal impetus of RSIEC to conduct the local government elections was further strengthened by the judgment of the Rivers State High Court in Suit No: PHC/2696/CS/2024 delivered on the 4th of September 2024, which positively directed the Governor of Rivers State, the Government of Rivers State and the RSIEC to conduct the scheduled local government elections on the 5th of October, 2025 using the 2023 Independent National Electoral Commission’s Voters Register already in the custody of RSIEC.

“As of today, RVSIEC has expressed and demonstrated concrete and verifiable capacity and readiness to conduct the 2024 Rivers State Local Government Elections on the 5th of October 2024.

“As of today, 17 out of 18 registered political parties, including the All Progressives Congress, have expressly and actively demonstrated their willingness to participate by filling candidates with RSIEC for the election.

“….To this end, I hereby declare Thursday and Friday, the 3rd and 4th of October 2024 as public holidays for citizens to travel to their communities and participate in the election.

“Furthermore, I hereby place a total restriction on vehicular and human movements into, within, and out of the State, and the Local Government Areas, from midnight of Friday 4th October 2024 to 5.00 p.m. on Saturday 5th October 2024, except for persons and vehicles valid identifications who are on election and other essential duties.

“The police and other security agencies have clear directives from the State’s Security Council to arrest and prosecute any person or group who attempts to violate the restriction on human and vehicular movements on election day.”

Rivers govt declares Thursday, Friday public holidays for LG poll