Posted by By RAZAQ BAMIDELE and UCHE USIM on
The South-South Peoples Assembly (SSPA) has dissociated itself from a statement credited to Governor Peter Odili of Rivers State that he would beg President Olusegun Obasanjo to run for a third term in office if the constitution accommdates it, describing the statement as the governor's personal view.
The South-South Peoples Assembly (SSPA) has dissociated itself from a statement credited to Governor Peter Odili of Rivers State that he would beg President Olusegun Obasanjo to run for a third term in office if the constitution accommdates it, describing the statement as the governor's personal view.
This is even as Lagos State Governor, Senator Bola Tinubu, condemned South-West governors for supporting Obasanjo's alleged third term bid.
Addressing a press conference in Lagos Tuesday, after the group's crucial meeting, SSPA Board of Trustees Chairman, Ambassador Matthew T. Mbu, reaffirmed the Assembly's resolve to produce the next president of Nigeria, asserting that commitment to the project remains intact.
His words: 'We reaffirm our total and unshakable commitment to the aspiration of the people of South South to produce the president in 2007 and to ensure that true federalism is achieved." 'We have enough electable and competent candidates that could be presented to the nation as not a sectional president but as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria."
The SSPA, according to Mbu, is pursuing vigorously the group's declaration in Calabar in 2004 that true federalism would be fully implemented 'with equality for all federating units and a derivation principle of revenue sharing formula of not less than 50 per cent."
On the forthcoming census, Mbu, who admitted that the exercise was key to national planning and development, called on South South people to take the exercise seriously by presenting themselves for the headcount.
'To this end, the South South Peoples Assembly is organizing a sensitization rally in Asaba, Delta State on February 25, 2006," Mbu disclosed, adding that both religion and ethnicity columns should be provided for current database.
The SSPA also threw its weight behind constitution review in all its ramifications 'as it provides a new opportunity for our people to partake in the review of the 1999 constitution to ensure that we are not short changed," Mbu said, pointing out that his group would love the country to be governed through a three-tier of government, namely federal, state and local government.
While commending President Olusegun Obasanjo's administration for its commitment towards eradication of corruption, Mbu said that his group would support the government on the crusade, adding that SSPA's belief in one united and indivisible nation was unshakable.
Meanwhile, Lagos State governor, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has described South West governors allegedly supporting the third term bid of President Olusegun Obasanjo as selfish people and covenant breakers.
The governor told aviation correspondents in Lagos Tuesday, that those in support of the move were doing so because they are fast becoming extinct politically and are hustling by all means to regain relevance.
His words: 'Those doing so, from what I'm reading from the pages of newspapers, are destroying the covenant with the people. What they are doing is strange to us and it's because they want to remain in office as they are becoming increasingly unpopular. They will go for whatever suits their self-serving motive. But Mr President himself has not spoken on his desire to attempt a third term. So by and large it's still a mirage and I won't really react strongly to speculations. For me, I'm prepared to do what is in the constitution."
On the seized Lagos State funds, the governor said the whole money has not been recovered, stressing that his administration would do everything possible to recover it. He described the continuous withholding of the funds as unconstitutional and a breach of court's order, stressing that the money is not meant for an individual but a state.
'That is political victimization, suppression and serious intimidation and denial of the people's money," he said.
On the allegation by Rafiu Tinubu that he rigged election, the governor said the man had no case, daring him to show evidence if he has a point to prove.
'I don't want to get into a war of words with him. He was nothing politically until I got him into office," he said.