TO check the bitter struggle for re-election in the nation, Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Canada, Prof. Iyorwuese Hagher, has called for a constitutional amendment to restrict the president and governors to one term.
Addressing a media briefing in Makurdi yesterday, Hagher stated that restricting the term of office to one term would “stabilise equity in rotation and zoning in political offices across the land.”
Hagher, a former Second Republic Senator and former Minister of State for Power, noted that the Nigerian electoral process had finally attained global standards, especially with the performance of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the National Assembly and presidential elections.
He said: “The election compares favourably with global standards. It is credible and respected. It is the freest since the beginning of our democratic journey 50 years ago but the voting pattern has shown the disturbing trend of a lingering and festering religious and ethnic fault line which all of us must deal with.”
Hagher stated that there was the need for politicians to immediately work hard towards healing the wounds associated with the elections once the electioneering ends.
He commended President Goodluck Jonathan for putting in place a benchmark of transparency and non-interference which have characterised the electoral process since April 9, 2011.
Hagher said: “We must begin to fashion a better and more inclusive democracy where the losers of election can retain the dignity and grace to concede defeat. Those who voted for other candidates are Nigerians too.
“The spirit of African brotherhood and the Nigerian fundamental resilience and goodness must overtake the rough edge of victory in the western style presidential system, where the winner takes all and the losers get nothing.”.
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Envoy seeks one term for president, governors