Gov Bago Support Single Tenure For Govs, President

It takes courage for someone in such a privileged position as a governor to admit publicly the failures of a system of government in which he is a beneficiary.

Bago who was speaking at the swearing-in of newly appointed commissioners and local government council chairmen, as well as some permanent secretaries and members of some Boards and Agencies observed that the fear of losing an election for a second term in office discourages an incumbent governor in his first term from taking some decisive steps that could have promoted development in the state.

In essence, the incumbent would not want to take any action that would amount to stepping on the toes of those who may be instrumental to his reelection even if it will be in the interest of the people. According to Governor Bago, “there are some steps I ought to have taken to move the state forward but I dare not because of fear that taking such decisions would affect my victory in 2027.

For example, some people who failed examinations and should have been sanctioned one way or the other could not be punished because of second-term ambition. He therefore advocated a single term for governors. “As the Governor, I am preoccupied with the search for a second term in office and as a result, governance is suffering and this is why one term is better to serve because you will be more focused from the beginning to the end of your one term tenure,” he remarked.

Proposals for a single term for governors and president is not new in the country. In fact, it was part of the resolutions of the 2014 Confab Report. But now we have a serving governor in his first term who is courageous enough to share his experience in governance and comes out boldly to advocate a single term for governors. Many Nigerians have therefore declared their support for Governor Bago’s proposal and called for an amendment of the constitution.

Declaring his support for a single term tenure for the president and the governors as canvassed by Governor Bago of Niger state, former Senate President, Senator Adolphus Wabara, argued that the proposal would help put an end to the monumental corruption and waste associated with the second term bid. Senator Wabara who said he had muted the idea during his speech on the aborted third term Bill by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, commended Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State, for renewing the call. He said:

“I sincerely doff my hat for Gov. Bago for being very truthful and selfless. He actually hit the nail on the head. Second term is not working for us because, once a President or Governor is elected, instead of performing, his or her concentration, from the first day of the first term, will be on how to win a second term. If we adopt a single tenure, an elected President or Governor won’t need the second term to make the first impression. I muted this idea during my speech on the third term bill. In my speech then, I strongly canvassed 6-year single tenure, and I still stand by that.

This will also help to stop corruption in the system. Governor Bago was right because instead of using monies meant for development during the first term, the President or Governor will be saving money to use in buying second term and that is institutionalisation of corruption. I, therefore, call on Nigerians to support one term of six years for the President and Governors.

This will enable them to fully concentrate on the job, and to be very effective. Rotation will also help solve the issue of marginalisation against Ndigbo because every geopolitical zone will constitutionally take a bite at the Presidency once in every 36 years. With this in place, the South East and the North East which have not produced the President can also constitutionally take their turn. This way, Nigeria will be more united and solve the problem of marginalisation”.