Posted by By Abimbola Akosile on
Manipulation of the political system has been described as the worst form of corruption, capable of leading into instability and civil war, which was more corrosive than economic and financial crimes.
Manipulation of the political system has been described as the worst form of corruption, capable of leading into instability and civil war, which was more corrosive than economic and financial crimes.
Making this declaration over the weekend in Lagos at a launching of a 251-page book on Fundamental Rights Enforcement written by Femi Falana, President of West African Bar Association (WABA) also insisted that no amount of constitutional engineering could justify extension of the tenure of public officers who obtained the mandate of the electorate to govern for a definitive period of four years, ending on May, 29.
"President Obasanjo's regime will face a moral crisis if it accedes to the satanic request of the 3rd term campaigners.
'Having led other countries and progressive forces in Africa to kick against usurpation of powers by those elements who violated the constitution in Sao Tome and Togo and currently in Mauritania, Nigeria cannot afford to engage in the manipulation of its own constitution in a way that democracy is subverted," he said.
"In the case of current public office holders who are spending their 2nd term in office, they are constitutionally debarred from seeking any extension, even for one day; because they sought a renewed mandate in 2003 on the basis that they would no longer be qualified to remain in office with effect from May 29, 2007.
'In fact, they subscribed to an oath of office to that effect and they swore to uphold the constitution, including the limitation of their own tenure.
"While the constitutional right of the Nigerian people to elect a new set of leaders has also accrued, that right cannot be sacrificed to satisfy the selfish ambition of the enemies of democracy. Recently the ruling party PDP, called to order an unconstitutional abridgment of the tenure of elected local government chairmen and councilors in Edo and Imo States, by directing the legislative houses in those states to annul the legal laws enacted by them to justify the reduction in time of those elected officials."
"To that extent, any attempt to manipulate the Constitution or instigate political crisis with a view to elongating the tenure of the President, would be subversive of the Constitution. By virtue of Section 6 of the Interpretation Act, the amendment or complete repeal of the 1999 Constitution shall not affect accrued rights, privileges, obligations or liabilities incurred under the current Constitution. What that means is that President Obasanjo and other public office holders in Nigeria are under a Constitutional obligation to end their tenure on May 29, 2007", Falana declared.