No nation can thrive and be democratically balanced in the face of injustice and unfair political manipulation. Nigeria cannot be an exception to this general principle of good governance. Equality and the rule of law are trite principles that must be jealously guided in the course of national development. I reiterate this obvious fact because Nigerians seem not to have learnt that one of the major factors for good governance is equality of stakeholders in a social contract. The just abandoned Bill for amendment of the 1999 Constitution and the subsequent reactions from the various geo-political zones calls for a timely reorientation in the interest of national stability. I did write on this issue before and told all that cared to listen that there is a difference between constitutional amendment and tenure elongation for president Olusegun Obasanjo and the serving State Governors. In the context of this piece, constitutional amendment is the process of expunging legislations, which are not practicable in the light of societal advancement and addition of legislations, which are of national interest subject to due processes within the National Assembly. On the other hand, tenure elongation is the insertion of a Clause, empowering the present administration to contest for a third term in office on the completion of the existing two tenures required by law or be empowered to contest another single term. Therefore tenure elongation is a fundamental but minute piece of legislation sought to be added to the 1999 Constitution among a whole lot of others. The throwing out of all proposed legislation to be annexed into the 1999 Constitution is not total victory for democracy. It is a shame that the other 115 proposed amendments where thrown into the thrash bin in the legislative House of Nigeria without recourse to fundamentals of such amendments. In my opinion democracy is only about to take its roots because a lot of the Peoples wish were not articulated as well. To forestall the applicability of a particular provision, 115 other provisions where thrown into the abyss. This is a shame. As a Nigerian, one need not be pro third or anti third term to know that there are other provisions contained in the Bill that would have been debated and passed into law or the reverse. To mention but a few, the South-east craved for an additional State to bring it to same status quo with other geo-political regions but today, that dream is shattered. There has been a controversy on the immunity veil of the President and State Governors; this issue would have been laid to rest if other provisions were considered rather than killing the entire Bill. What about the recognition of the geo-political zones, fiscal federation and federating units within the Nigerian States, Local Government autonomy and tenure of Local Government Chairmen and others too numerous to mention? Stepping down memory lane, it reflects that the South-south of Nigeria is the only region that has never tested power either as President, Senate President or Speaker of the lower house. Upon the scuttling and annulment of June 12th Election acclaimed to be the freest and fairest election in Nigeria’s history, which paved way for Abachaism and subsequently Abdulsalami’s Transitional Government, all hands were on deck in ensuring that power was conceded by the South-west region of Nigeria in the interest of fairness to the Yoruba Nation and the then leading political parties zoned their Presidential candidates to the South-west, which produced the Obasanjo’s administration. So why can’t the same treatment be meted out on the South-south or Southeast? The South-south produces bulk of the nation’s wealth and has little or nothing to show for it. It is the only zone that has been eluded since Independence and if the PDP is to support the South-south or Southeast, why cant the Northern gladiators allow for a level playing field? Today South-south is the sore of the Nation. For Democracy to flourish in Nigeria in the presence of our bigotries, the interest of the minorities must be seriously addressed. The statement credited to Governor Kure of Niger State published in This Day newspaper of May 29th 2006 is not only unfortunate but also provoking and I consider it a challenge to the people of the South-south and Southeast. In the publication, the Governor was quoted as saying that there is no serious Presidential contender from the South-south. This leaves one wondering what the criteria are for contesting Presidential Election. Is it by being a former Army General, large financial war chest stolen from public funds, being a stooge to a Northern oligarchy or being a beneficiary of the born to rule syndrome? Judging from all parlances, the South-south and Southeast as equal stakeholders in the Nigerian project stand as tall if not taller than any other geo-political zone in Nigeria. Yes, majority of the Southern legislators stood for amendment of the Constitution but that does not bar any Presidential aspirant from the zone from aspiring and getting support from other zones in Nigeria. If the press did a good job during the Debate, the press today is a South-south and Southeast instrument to a large extent. It is unfortunate that such an inflammatory statement emanated from a State Chief Executive. The fact remains that if past Leaders whose leadership has caused Nigerians a lot of hardship can still intend to contest, then everybody within the South-south and Southeast can contest without a blink. The South parades Scholars of local and international repute in all endeavours of life. The only thing it lacks and has no regret is a former Military Head of State or a Civilian President whose credibility is in question and wants to return to Aso rock. In the contemporary sense of civilized politics, can such people win an election? The answer is NO. Therefore I urge Nigerians to support a credible candidate in the Presidential run up of 2007. It will ensure stability, equality, fairness and a sense of belonging to everyone within the Nigerian project.
EUGENE UZUM ESQ. NIGERIAN REFORMERS ACADEMY, LEEDS, UK
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