Senator Drums Support For Single Term Proposal

As the single term proposal for president and governors continued to sweep through the polity, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe member representing Rivers South East Senatorial District has called on Nigerians to examine the idea dispassionately before criticising it.

Abe, who lend his weight behind President Goodluck Jonathan’s proposed amendment bill during an interactive session with journalists at the weekend in Port Harcourt argued that the cost of conducting party primaries and the general elections would be reduced.

He described the President’s decision as a well thought out initiative, specifically intended to eliminate the crisis which desperation to hang on to power often generates in the build up to the re-election moves of political office holders.

The Lawmaker who has been in the vanguard to consolidate democracy in the country argued that the six years single-term for the president and governors would enhance democratic stability, allow elected executives to concentrate on governance and service delivery for their full term, instead of running governments with re-elections as their primary focus.

He noted that the present four year renewable tenure encourages desperate politicking, instability and wastage of funds, stressing that the six year single-term will make election less expensive.

According to him, “if you put together the amount of money expended by contestants, especially incumbents in the last general elections, you would appreciate the enormity of waste. These monies would have been channelled to development.

Abe, who was the immediate past Secretary to the Rivers State Government, however, said he would consult his constituents, when the proposal is tabled on the floor of the Senate, adding that, the move, if actalised will also enhance planning, issue based polity and fairness.