How NASS stopped Obasanjo's 3rd term bid – Dogara
Yakubu Dogara, the speaker of the
House of Representatives, has stated that the National Assembly saved Nigeria’s
democracy by stopping the third term ambition of former president Olusegun
Obasanjo.
Daily Sun
reports that Dogara was speaking at the inaugural edition of the National
Political Summit organized by the Save Democracy Group headed by a former
speaker, Alhaji Ghali Umar Na’abba.
The
summit titled “The Legislature and the Stability of Nigerian Democracy,” was
held on Monday, January 25.
While
delivering a keynote address, Dogara said:
“Perhaps
one of the greatest achievements of the Legislature in Nigeria and its biggest
contribution to democratic consolidation in Nigeria is the rejection of the
third term bid of the former president Olusegun Obasanjo.
“Both
chambers of the National Assembly, in a historic vote rejected the proposed
amendment of the Constitution to extend presidential tenure from 8 to 12 years.
Perhaps that singular decision ensured that our democracy survived.”
In his
speech, the speaker took time to enumerate the contributions of the legislative
arm of government to the sustenance of democracy since 1999.
He mentioned
the increased funding for the Niger-Delta Development Commission, the passage
of the pension reform act, the enactment of the 2002, 2006, 2010 electoral
acts, which led to the effectiveness of the Independent National Electoral
Commission, the rejection of tenure elongation.
According
to Dogara, the legislature is the least understood arm of government due to the
long stay of the military in power. However, he stressed that the legislature
rather than promoting or glossing over graft has fought corruption.
Meanwhile, Obasanjo
has recently attended the public presentation and launch of an autobiography of
Justice Mustapha Akanbi, where he made some stunning revelations about Nigeria.
He spoke on corruption in the National Assembly and how he fought really hard to stem
corruption in the country after he became the president.
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