Jonathan explains proposed six-year tenure

Jonathan explains proposed six-year tenure
Obiora Ani and Uche Aneke, Abuja

Nigeria’s President, Goodluck Jonathan, says the intended proposal for a bill to institute single six-year tenure for the President and Governors of the 36 states is not to elongate his tenure in office.

President Jonathan said this at the 56th National Executive Committee (NEC), meeting of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja on Thursday.

Bill to deepen democratic growth

He said the political parties in the country recommended the single tenure to the Justice Mohammadu Lawal Uwais’ National Electoral Reform Conference noting that there was no truth in the claims that he had forwarded such constitutional amendment to the National Assembly for consideration.

The President re-stated that the Jonathan/Sambo tenure as President and Vice President of Nigeria would end on May 29, 2015.

The Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, pointed out, while addressing reporters in Abuja on Thursday, that the proposed constitution amendment that would provide a single tenure for the President and the Governors was expected to reach the National Assembly before the end of August 2011.

He explained that the proposed bill was to deepen the democratic growth in the country and not a ploy to elongate President Jonathan’s tenure as being speculated by some Nigerians.

Voice of Nigeria’s correspondent, Obiora Ani, reports that the next National Convention of the PDP was fixed for February next year.

Williams