Posted by By PAUL ORUDE, Bauchi on
Second Republic Internal Affairs Minister, Dr. Ibrahim Tahir, has advised the National Assembly against tampering with the constitutionally guaranteed two terms for the President and governors when it eventually settles to the task of Constitution review.
Second Republic Internal Affairs Minister, Dr. Ibrahim Tahir, has advised the National Assembly against tampering with the constitutionally guaranteed two terms for the President and governors when it eventually settles to the task of Constitution review.
The renowned politician also wants the multi-state Federal structure preserved, warning that any attempt at a shift to regionalism, which has been a position canvassed by some sections of the country, especially the South, would be a drift to "civil war conditions" and ultimately disintegration.
Tahir, a major player in the regimes of Yakubu Gowon, Shehu Shagari and Ibrahim Babangida, while commenting on plans to review the 1999 Constitution, believes that the haste with which the leadership of the Senate seemed to be going about it raises suspicion.
He stated: "I read about the intention of the President of the Senate, David Mark and I was apprehensive because he had just taken office. I thought there was something predetermined about a president of the Senate who had just taken office, had not had more than a week in the office and he was already declaring that during his tenure, the Senate would attempt to review the Constitution."
The politician, who is also the Taltan Bauchi, vehemently spoke against the single five-year term being proposed in some quarters.
"Any new government takes 18 months of honeymoon before it eventually learns of its terrain, to digest the terrain. After 18 months, the kissing stops and the hardheaded probing and the enquiry begin and people begin to look at you. So, a government in a four-year term situation has 18 months to begin to lay the ground for its own success and another 18 months and a year to election," he said.
The elder statesman, in this interview with Daily Sun, also warned about the danger of promoting regionalism, saying it was a recipe for civil war.
He advised: "The first rule of Constitution review is that it must avoid regionalization. It is not convenient."
Excerpts:
Constitutional review
I read about the intention of the President of the Senate David Mark, and I was apprehensive, because he had just taken office. I thought there was something predetermined about a president of the Senate who had just taken office, had not had more than a week in the office and he was already declaring that during his tenure, the Senate would attempt to review the Constitution. I wrote a letter to him, but did not send it. I wrote to congratulate him and let him know that his statement had triggered some warning bells in my head.
In particular, I was apprehensive that they may come up with a return to six regions which is going to send us back to civil war conditions. Any real regionalisation, in my opinion, is a recipe for civil war mongering, because even in the multi-state structure, which gives you small communities up and down the country, we were being pushed almost to the brink of civil war at one point or the other. The spate of disorders masquerading as religious disorders in Kaduna, Plateau, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Taraba and more critically, those in the South West and the one in Benue could actually be a warning.
Multi-structure Federalism
I want to emphasise that no matter how convenient or inconvenient, expensive or inexpensive, multi-state structure of Federation is, it remains the minimum condition for peace, stability and survival in this country. Once you begin to dither with one particular, then you are trying to reignite the foundation of crises. There are people who find the idea of belonging to a small state uncomfortable or humiliating.
Rules of constitutional review
The first rule of Constitution review is that it must avoid regionalisation. It is not convenient to many, but to some people like latter-day Biafrans, they think of it in terms of pan-Igbo thing. Latter-day Middle Beltans went around planting signboards all over the place on their boundaries saying this is Middle Belt, that kind of thing. It is like a dinosaur - quite extinct. They should forget this. What we have to focus on is, if you don't get what you love, love what you get. Without having a final concept, a physical concept, that is, in your mind that this is how we are, you cannot even plant anything.
There are two forms of arbitration. The arbitration of the law and the arbitration of fighting. Many of those people who are advocating five years' Presidency, eight years' Presidency, one term Presidency, permanent President for that matter, many of them today can't even mount a political election platform without assistance.
The system that holds rulers in check is that one that says, 'we are trying you, Sir. If you mess up, we get rid of you. If you excel, we extend your rule. We are worried that you will become a demon if you beccome used to the thing. Therefore, we will put a limit to it so that you don't do it for more than two terms." This is the one, in my view, that is better. Any new government takes 18 months of a honeymoon before it eventually learns of its terrain, to digest the terrain. After 18 months, the kissing stops and the hardheaded probing and the enquiry begin and people begin to look at you and ask questions about your achievement.