By Joel Oladele, Abuja
It is a known fact that under Nigerian law, presidents, vice presidents, governors and deputy governors can only serve for a maximum two terms of four years each.
If there is going to be any alteration to such, it must start with constitution amendments, which is also subject to many other factors.
It would be recalled that an attempt for third term in office was first made in the past by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo and it would have scaled through and changed the political history of Nigeria but for the intervention of Kenechukwu Nnamani-led fifth senate that prevented a total hijack of the nation’s constitution by the political class.
Under President Buhari’s administration, there have been agitations by so-called support groups and cabals staging street demonstrations, asking Buhari to extend his time in office. The Presidency has on two occasions in the past stated unambiguously that “there are no circumstances, nor set of circumstances, under which President Muhammadu Buhari may seek to amend the constitution regarding the two-term limit on holding office as President.” The declaration was part of a press statement issued on October 2nd, 2019 by Mallam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media. Shehu also reiterated the statement two days to Christmas the same year.
“The president intends to serve his full second elected term in office, ending 2023, and then there shall be a general election in which he will not be a candidate.There is not even the faintest possibility that this will change.
“President Buhari is a democrat. He respects the Constitution. Any activity aimed at altering the two-term limit will not succeed and shall never have his time nor support,” his spokesperson Garba Shehu said.
The Presidency went further by describing such insinuation as mere internet-based gossip and un-informed media commentary.
However, considering the porosity of our constitution, some political observers are of the opinion that a sitting president with a strong political prowess as President Muhammadu Buhari can easily have his way if he really wants tenure elongation as many factors are in his favour to realize his third term bid.
Such factors include: constitutional amendment, arm-twisting of the judiciary, pocketing of the Electoral Umpire, rubber-stamping of the legislature and castrating of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).
An erstwhile political associate of Buhari, Buba Galadima, once raised the alarm that the President may be contesting in the 2023 presidential election.
According to him, Buhari has already pocketed the judiciary, and he feels that nothing will happen, and that he will be victorious at the court. His government has destroyed the judiciary and this is very troubling for democracy, and our nation.
The sources further disclosed amendment is imminent and it would be targeted at creating a six-year single tenure so that after Buhari, no one would enjoy serving for a second tenure and in a way making him the last longest serving President. This, the presidency has also debunked.
However, despite the outright denial by the Presidency that President Muhammadu Buhari is not interested in running for a third term, there has been continuous agitations by merchants of tenure elongation asking the president to continue in office at the expiration of his second tenure in 2023 under the guise of love for Buhari and the nation.
This must have prompted the president to make his stand known on the lingering issue at a meeting in Makkah with a selected group of Nigerians resident in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where he just ended a visit. He used the opportunity to send an important message to Nigerians on his unbending determination to respect the constitution at all times and on all issues, swearing by the Holy Qur’an that he will leave when his time is up. “No ‘Tazarce’ (tenure extension). I don’t want anybody to start talking about and campaigning for unconstitutional extension. I will not accept that,” Buhari said.
This strong warning to would-be campaigners from the President himself, will hopefully put a stop to the activities of this cabal, seeking self relevance.
Some Nigerians have lauded this declaration by the president, describing it as a patriotic choice which is similar to the unambiguous ‘Shermanesque’ declaration of another General in the US, General William Tecumseh Sherman who in 1884 turned down an invitation to become the Republican presidential candidate by saying: “ I will not accept, if nominated and will not serve if elected.”
It is the only hope the country today has that tenure elongation or what is known as the third term will not happen as other factors can easily be altered by an incumbent president with such a political strength that cuts across all boards as President Muhammadu Buhari.
The merchants can now sheathe their sword, we have heard from the horse’s mouth. The General has spoken, other speakers with a contrary message can now be regarded as noise makers. Case closed!