More Than 80 Reasons Why Buhari Must Do Third Term
opera.com Nov 25, 2019 5:33 PM
By Ikeddy ISIGUZO
NIGERIANS refuse to accept responsibility for the challenges their country present. They would rather spend years debating if leadership was the problem. Was it not in the midst of those debates that President Muhammadu Buhari was elected, incorruptible, a man of integrity, one whose word was a bond, a lover of Nigerians, firm, Spartan, a patriot like no other. His impeccable credentials speak for him.
Why would anyone want his presidency to come to a sudden cessation after only two terms? The early campaigns to deny Buhari more time on the seat – he is rarely there – must be the work of some unpatriotic Nigerians who can't wait to see dis departure for them to return to their ways.
Only with a wave of the hand, Buhari changed Nigeria to "next level". Goodluck Jonathan's presidency remains the benchmark used in assessing the impressive performances of Buhari that have earned him awards globally. So long as Buhari runs Nigeria, whatever befalls the country would not be "worse than where we were in 2015", summarises the All Progressives Congress, APC's response to hardship that only corrupt Nigeria face. Ordinary Nigerians have been saved the scourge of only a few despoiling our national resources.
President Buhari is law-abiding, knows which laws to obey and as the Chief Security Officer of Nigeria, decides which court decisions are not right for Nigeria. Do you expect him to obey them? The President knows better, and his over-whelming re-election, which the Supreme Court affirmed, is another confirmation of how much the people love their President, they want more of him.
An APC member from Ebonyi State, Charles Oko Enya, knowing how law-abiding the President is, has asked a Federal High Court in Abakiliki, to order the National Assembly and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to remove any constitutional obstacles to an elected President, and Governors from seeking a third term in office. The suit with No: FHC/AI/CS/90/19, was filed on 22 November, two days before the President told APC's National Executive Committee that he was not interested in a third term.
Iheanacho Agboti, Enya's lawyer, said his client wanted removal of Section 137(1) (b) and 182 (1) (b) in the 1999 Constitution (as amended), saying that they infringed on the rights of the President and Governors by limiting their terms.
According to him, "that section 137(1)(b)of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999 (as amended) restricting the president to only two terms of four years each, is inoperative by virtue of its discriminatory nature in relation to the executive and legislative branches of government in Nigeria, and therefore null and void and thus inapplicable". Enya was an organising secretary in President Buhari's 2019 campaign.
Would a law-abiding Buhari refuse to accept a constitutional amendment? Would Governors who control their State Assembly (and the President just met with Speakers of State Assemblies, such a co-incidence), and who are known not to have the qualities of the President not push the amendment for their personal benefits?
They would then coerce the President into the race, for his love of Nigeria, and the only one who the Almighty has mandated to rule Nigeria in perpetuity?
Below are some of the 80 reasons why President Buhari should continue in office for as long as he wants. In 2015, he promised to deal with these matters. Who can deal with these issues in only eight years, except Buhari? He has fulfiled most of his promises and needs a little more time to deal with the rest, just a little more time. Here are some of the achievements that qualify him for unshackled tenure:
1. Public declaration of assets and liabilities
2. State and community policing
3. Ban on all government officials from seeking medical care abroad
4. Implementation of the National Gender Policy, including 35% of appointive positions for women
5. Revival of Ajaokuta Steel Company
6. Generation, transmission and distribution of at least 20,000 MW of electricity within four years and increasing to 50,000 MW with a view to achieving 24/7 uninterrupted power supply within 10 years.
7. Empowerment scheme to employ 740,000 graduates across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
8. Establishment of a free-tuition and scholarship scheme for pupils who have shown exceptional aptitude in science subjects at O/Levels to study ICT-related courses
9. 720,000 jobs by the 36 states in the federation per annum (20,000 per state)
10. Three million Jobs per year
11. [In another policy document by the APC] We will embark on vocational training, entrepreneurial and skills acquisition schemes for graduates along with the creation of a Small Business Loan Guarantee Scheme to create at least 5 million new jobs by 2019.
12. Churches and Mosques would not pay taxes under national laws, but if they engage in businesses, the businesses would pay tax.
13. Provision of allowances to the discharged but unemployed Youth Corps members for Twelve (12) months while in the skills and entrepreneurial development programme
14. Making our economy one of the fastest-growing emerging economies in the world with a real GDP growth averaging 10% annually. [In another instance, the APC promised 10-12% annual GDP growth]
15. Creation of a Social Welfare Programme of at least Five Thousand Naira (N5000) that will cater for the 25 million poorest and most vulnerable citizens upon the demonstration of children's enrollment in school and evidence of immunisation to help promote family stability
16. Recruitment and training of at least 100,000 officers into the Nigerian police force and establish a federal anti-terrorism agency.
17. One free meal (to include fruits) daily, for public primary school pupils
18. Building an airport in Ekiti state
19. Eradication of State of origin, replacing that with State of residence to ensure Nigerians are Nigerians first, before anything else.
20. Establishment of Crime Squad to combat terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery, militants, ethno-religious and communal clashes nationwide
21. Working with the National Assembly towards the immediate enactment of a Whistle Blower Act
22. Economic stability for the ECOWAS nations and maintaining a strong, close and frank relationship with West Africa, South Africa, UK, USA, Canada, and other African countries
23. Establishing a conflict resolution commission to help prevent, mitigate and resolve civil conflicts within the polity.
24. All political officer holders earn only the salaries and emoluments determined and approved by the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission RMFAC.
25. Permanent peace in the Niger Delta and other conflict prone areas such as Plateau, Taraba, Bauchi, Borno and Abia.
26. As against fears in some quarters, Buhari while speaking with catholic bishops in Abuja back in February, promised not to Islamise Nigeria.
27. Nationwide sanitation plans to keep Nigeria clean
28. Preserving the independence of the Central Bank
29. Simplifying immigration process to foster faster visa processing at points of entry.
30. Special incentives to facilitate the education of the girl child
31. Full implementation of the National Identification Scheme to generate the relevant data.
32. Making Information Technology, Manufacturing, Agriculture and Entertainment key drivers of our economy
33. Balancing the economy across regions by the creation of 6 new Regional Economic Development Agencies (REDAs) to act as champions of sub-regional competitiveness
34. Putting in place N300bn regional growth fund (average of N50bn in each geo-political region) to be managed by the REDAs.
35. Amending the Constitution and the Land Use Act to create freehold/leasehold interests in land along with matching grants for states to create a nationwide electronic land title register on a state by state basis
36. Reviving and reactivating our minimally performing Refineries to optimum capacity
37. Creating additional middle-class of at least 2 million new home owners in our first year in government and 1 million annually thereafter.
38. [In another policy document] Creating an additional middle class of at least 4 million new home owners by 2019 by enacting national mortgage single digit interest rates for purchase of owner occupier houses as well as reviewing the collateral qualification to make funding for home ownership easier, with 15 to 30 year mortgage terms.
39. Enacting a national mortgage system that will lend at single digit interest rates for purchase of owner occupier houses.
40. Injecting extra N30bn to the Agricultural sector to create more agro-allied jobs by way of loans at nominal interest rates for capital investment on medium and commercial scale cash crops.
41. You farm, government buys, guaranteeing a minimum price for selected crops and facilitate storage of agricultural products as and when necessary.
42. Creating a national infrastructural development bank to provide loans at nominal interest rates exclusively for this sector.
43. Construction of 3,000km of Superhighway including service trunks
44. Building of up to 4,800km of modern railway lines – one third to be completed by 2019
45. At least one functioning airport is available in each of the 36 states.
46. Ending gas flaring and ensuring sales of at least half of gas produce, within Nigeria
47. Speedily passing the much-delayed Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and ensuring that local content issues are fully addressed.
48. Establishing at least six new universities of science and technology with satellite campuses in various states.
49. Establishing six centres of excellence to address the needs of special education
50. Prioritizing the reduction of the infant mortality rate by 2019 to 3%
51. Reducing maternal mortality by more than 70%
52. Reducing HIV/AIDs infection rate by 50% and other infectious diseases by 75%
53. Improving life expectancy by additional 10 years on average.
54. Increasing the number of physicians from 19 per 1000 population to 50 per 1000
55. Increasing national health expenditure per person per annum to about N50, 000 (from less than N10, 000 currently)
56. Increasing the quality of all federal government-owned hospitals to world class standard within five years
57. Ensuring timely payment of retirement benefits for all pensioned senior citizens and creating a poverty safety net for all aged citizens above the age of 65.
58. Amending the Constitution to require Local Governments to publish their meeting minutes, service performance data, and items of spending over N10M.
59. Requiring full disclosure in media outlets, of all government contracts over N100m prior to award and during implementation at regular interval
60. Amending the Constitution to remove immunity from prosecution for elected officers in criminal case
61. Initiating action to amend the Nigerian Constitution with a view to devolving powers, duties, and responsibilities to states in order to entrench true Federalism and the Federal spirit
62. Reforming and Strengthening the Justice System for efficient administration and dispensation of justice with the creation of special courts for accelerated hearing of corruption, drug trafficking, terrorism and similar cases of national importance
63. Establishing world-class sports academy and training institutes and ensure that Nigeria occupies a place of pride in global sports and athletics
64. Reviving the Nigerian football league and putting incentives in place to make it as competitive as other national leagues.
65. Putting in place measures to identify talents early and ensuring their participation in local and international games to enable them become professionals
66. Assisting Nollywood to fully develop into world class movie industry that can compete effectively with Hollywood and Bollywood in due course.
67. Ensuring the rights of women are protected as enshrined in our Constitution
68. Guaranteeing that women are adequately represented in government appointments and providing greater opportunities in education, job creation and economic empowerment
69. Promoting the concept of reserving a minimum number of seats in the National Assembly for women.
70. Free maternal and children healthcare services
71. Stabilising the Naira
72. Targeting up to 20% of our annual budget for this critical sector whilst making substantial investments in training quality teachers at all levels of the educational system (Some other APC policy documents had 15%)73. Ensuring compliance with policies and measures to halt the pollution of rivers and waterways in the Niger Delta and other parts of the country
73. Adopting a holistic approach to erosion and shoreline protection across the country
74. ECOWAS currency by 2020 under Nigeria's guidance and leadership
75. Maintaining strong, close and frank relationships within the Gulf of Guinea, the Commonwealth, South Africa and the rest of the world
76. Establishing a new special relationship with the leading emerging markets like Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) and other strategic partners around the world.
77. [On Boko Haram] Government intends to commission a sociological study to determine its origins, remote and immediate causes of the movement, its sponsors, and the international connections to ensure that measures are taken to prevent a recurrence of this evil.
78. Strengthening INEC to reduce, if possible, eliminate electoral malpractices in Nigerian's political life
79. Improving operational and legal mechanisms so that disciplinary steps are taken against proven human rights violations by the Armed Forces.
80. Free Education at primary, secondary and tertiary institutions for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Education.
The stage is set for another round of contests to appropriate Nigeria. The is only safe in the hands of a patriot like President Buhari, who in four years, has served Nigerians so exceptionally that the only complaints Nigerians have are about border closure and rising price of rice.
If President Buhari can't please Nigerians, nobody can. Soon, the law will say so.
Sent from my iPhone
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