Single Term Bill Not Jettisoned –Presidency

The Presidency, yesterday, clarified that President Goodluck Jonathan has not jettisoned the proposed bill for a single term tenure for the President and Governors contrary to media reports.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, gave the clarification during a weekly media briefing with State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

“How do you withdraw something that has not even been tabled? It is a proposal that is at the level of idea and it has generated a debate  with people saying that it has been jettisoned, who are they quoting?

“At the moment, if you check the debate you will find that there are even as many people supporting it as there are people who are criticising it. In fact in my own estimation, there are more people supporting the idea”.

“It is just that they say that they support the idea, but may be the issue should not have been brought up at this time. But on the relevance of the proposal, there seems to be no disagreement on that among the majority of Nigerians,’’ he said.

The President’s spokesperson also disclosed that the report of the Presidential Committee on the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, will be submitted during the week, and assured that the report would be taken very seriously by the President.

“The Boko Haram report is to be submitted this week and the President will react to it because security is what the President takes very seriously. It is not all that is included in the report that will be discussed publicly because it is security issue.  Given the calibre of persons in the committee and the efforts by government, such report when received will not be swept under the carpet,’’ he said.

He noted that the President has given the Borno State crisis maximum attention, adding that his not visiting the scene of the crisis did not amount to insensitivity.

Abati reiterated the President’s position on issues of accountability, transparency and openness in governance, saying that no government functionary would be protected from the law if found wanting.

Chief Dagogo Clinton, Director of Production, Rivers state Newspaper Corporation (right) presenting a gift to Mr Peter Waate, former Director of Finance, during the sendforth party organised by staff of the Account Department last Wednesdy. Photo: Nwieueh Donatus Ken