Politics
Rotational Presidency Good For Nigeria – Okupe
A former Director-General of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, Dr Doyin Okupe, has said the proposed single-tenure rotational presidency is a great idea for a developing country like Nigeria.
Dr Okupe, a former presidential spokesman, who made the statement during an interview yesterday in Lagos, however, said it should not be approached hastily.
A bill seeking a single-term of six years for president and state governors was brought up recently by 35 members of the House of Representatives.
The bill also canvasses the rotation of the presidency among the six geo-political zones of the country.
Mexico is one of the few countries in the world operating a six-year single tenure presidency.
In his reaction, Dr Okupe, a former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC), said that many things were wrong with the 1999 Constitution despite the amendments it has undergone.
“I don’t think we should do this kind of reform (constitutional amendment) in a haphazard manner. There is so much that is wrong with the constitution we are operating. There is so much confusion and contradiction in the 1999 Constitution as prescribed and handed over to us by the military. I would rather have us have a holistic approach to this reform or amendment. The six year single tenure for president and governors is okay in a developing nation like this and I have no objection to it. Yes, it is good we can have a six-year single tenure rotational presidency. However, the rotational part should be clearly stated in the constitution among the six zones,” Dr Okupe said.
He said that the National Assembly should not just review the tenure alone, but must go ahead and do many other reforms, especially in the electoral system.
According to him, there is also confusion about whether Nigeria is running a federal system or unitary system which any reform must address.
He added that if the nation must have the reform, the presidential system of government must be jettisoned for parliamentary system “where we have a Prime Minister that would be elected by his colleagues from the parliament.
“The Prime Minister will run the country under the supervision of the elected president. The role of the president will be limited and be very clear. And if the people are not satisfied with the Prime Minister, they can go to the parliament to remove him and put someone else. This is a country of over 200 million people; a lot of destinies are involved. There is no need for us to patch and patch it. If the constitution is not okay, let us attend to it properly.”
Commenting on the 2014 National Conference, Dr Okupe said that the recommendations of the confab organised by former President Goodluck Jonathan would have delivered an acceptable constitution if implemented.
Dr Okupe said, “Everybody agreed and everybody consented, why don’t we bring that up to have something that is reasonable? We just add other issues like a single-term rotational presidency. And if we are going to do it, the time for it is now. We need to get things corrected once and for all. We are where we are because we are just satisfied managing the same constitution that has not helped us.’’
Politics
Why I Won’t Help Tinubu’s Govt Overcome Economic Challenges – Sanusi
The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, says he would not help President Bola Tinubu’s administration to correct the administration’s policies affecting the citizens.
Emir Sanusi spoke on Wednesday in Lagos as the chairman of the 21st Anniversary of Fawehinmiism (Gani Fawehinmi Annual Lecture 2025).
The emir stated that while there were “a few points” he could offer to explain the trajectory the administration had taken and how such decisions were predictable, he chose not to do so because “they don’t behave like friends.”
He said explaining the government’s policies would help the government, but he did not intend to assist them due to the way they had treated him.
“I can give a few points that are contrary, that explain perhaps what we’re going through and how it was totally predictable, most of it, and maybe avoidable. But I am not going to do that.
“I have chosen not to speak about the economy or the reforms or to even explain anything because if I explain, it would help this government, but I don’t want to help this government,” the emir said while addressing some of the points made by speakers about the economy.
He added: “You know they’re my friends, but if they don’t behave like friends, I don’t behave like a friend. So I watch them being stooges. And they don’t even have people with credibility who can come and explain what they are doing. I am not going to help. I started out helping, but I am not going to help. I am not going to discuss it. Let them come and explain to Nigerians why the policies that are being pursued are being pursued.
“Meanwhile, I’m watching a very nice movie with popcorn in my hands. But I will say one thing: What we are going through today is, at least in part, not totally, but at least in part, a necessary consequence of decades of irresponsible economic management.
“People were told decades ago that if you continue along this path, this is where you’re going to end up, and they refused to open their eyes. Now, is everything being done today correct? No.”
Emir Sanusi, who was deposed as the 14th Emir of Kano in 2020 by then-Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the current national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), was reinstated as the 16th Emir of Kano in 2024 by the New Nigeria People’s Party-led Kano State Government.
His emirship has faced ongoing challenges from forces believed to be backed by the federal government, including federal officials’ continued recognition of his predecessor, Emir Aminu Ado Bayero.
Last month, the police barricaded his palace, with the state government accusing the federal government of orchestrating the action to stir unrest in the peaceful state.
Politics
Reps Loses Deputy Chief Whip
The Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Oriyomi Onanuga, is dead.
Also known as Ijaya, Rt Hon. Onanuga, who was the member representing Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency, is said to have died following a brief illness.
This was confirmed in a tweet on the official X (formerly Twitter) account of the House of Representatives, on Wednesday night.
Rt Hon Onanuga, who was born in Hammersmith, London, to Nigerian parents on December 2, 1965, was a politician and entrepreneur. She held the position of Deputy Chief Whip in the Nigerian House of Representatives since 2023.
She contested and won a seat in the House of Representatives under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019. She also served as the Chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development.
Politics
Aiyedatiwa Dissolves Cabinet, Retains Finance Commissioner, Attorney-General
Gov. Aiyedatiwa, however, exempted two members of the cabinet from the dissolution due to the critical nature of their duties.
The two commissioners exempted include the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Kayode Ajulo, SAN, and the Commissioner for Finance, Mrs. Omowunmi Isaac.
This was contained in a statement issued by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
Mr Adeniyan said in the statement that “All the affected cabinet members are to hand over all government properties in their care to the accounting officers of their respective ministries.
Gov. Aiyedatiwa thanked the executive council members “for their service and contributions to the development of Ondo State under his administration and wished them well in their future endeavours”.
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