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CLICK ON A STATE OR SCROLL DOWN TO SEE HOW THE SENATORS VOTED ON 3RD TERM AGENDA OF OBASANJO
FCT Abuja ,Abia ,Adamawa ,Akwa Ibom ,Anambra ,Bauch, Bayelsa Benue ,Borno ,Cross River ,Delta ,Ebonyi ,Edo ,Ekiti ,Enugu ,Gombe ,Imo ,Jigawa,Kaduna ,Kano ,Katsina ,Kebbi ,Kogi ,Kwara ,Lagos,Nassarawa ,Niger ,Ogun ,Ondo Osun ,Oyo ,Plateau ,Rivers ,Sokoto Taraba ,Yobe ,Zamfara

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I am member of the Constitution Review Committee. I am also a member of PDP. My party has taken a position and I support the position of my party. In this country, we have always had the problem of continuity. Anytime a government comes to power, they start a programme of their own. I am guided by my duty as a Senator and by national interest. On the day of voting, I will vote accordingly.

Abia

I congratulate President Obasanjo for making his own input into nation-building. If we must be kind to him, he has given us his all. If the third term were allowed, the South-West would have ruled the country for 12 years. If the South-South takes their turn for 12 years, the North-East 12 years and probably the North-Central another 12 years, if you add this to 46 years of independence, it will be up to 96 years before an Igbo man could be president of the country. Circumstances led to the concession of the president to the South-West, those circumstances are starring the South-East in the face. We need a concession of the President to the South-East. Leave the two-term of four years as it is now

Adamawa

I oppose the six geo-political zones because that is a prejudice against some sections of the country. I support the principle of rotation between North and South. On tenure, there is no problem since you support rotation between North and South.

If you do this (elongate) it would mean that all the political parties would have to nominate their candidates from one zone and that will restrict the political space.

My party supports third term, I am also constrained by the decision of my constituency to support tenure elongation.

Akwa Ibom

The way we are playing politics today, we are destroying the basis of party politics and now is the duty of everyone to answer his father’s name. My party has taken a stand on these issues and I support the stand of my party which is for the amendment. A new term should be added and people should submit themselves to party nomination and then to election and that means that my governor who has been doing well and the president who has done very well should stand. Derivation: People think of this 18 per cent which is not acceptable to us as applying to only the oil producing states but the truth is that it will apply to all mineral producing states.

I am indeed delighted that virtually all that have spoken are in support of 18 per cent (benchmark for derivation), but I still appeal to my distinguished colleagues to consider 25 per cent which is the position of the South-South. I do not support elongation of term limits. 

This body has full rights to amend the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and we should not hesitate to amend those portions which we feel should be amended. We will find that in the past, this country depended very much on groundnut and cocoa, but in recent decades this has shifted to oil. So, I feel that the same principle which we used to arrive at derivation should be applied to oil. Then, derivation was 50%. The committee is raising derivation to 18% (but) I think it is unfair, we should use the same principle which was used in the past which was 50%.

Anambra

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This is one bill too many, given the level of controversy and tension it has generated in the system. Even at a stage, I started wondering whether we needed to amend the constitution. I am against the principle of rotation between North and South, but if we must uphold rotation, it should be between the zones.
On the almighty tenure,this has overheated the system to the extent that the media has categorised us into three pigeon holes: those for, those against and those undecided and I have been put as undecided.
I stand here to say that Senator Joy Emodi is not a woman to be undecided on any matter whatsoever. I am a mother, I am a peace maker, so I don’t see why I should dramatise my position. I want to say that when it comes to voting, everybody will know where I stand.

The position that I saw from my people when I met with them was that apart from a football match nothing has as much united them as opposition to elongation. We should institutionalise our institutions and not personalise them and may God give everyone of us the grace and courage to do the right the thing and say no to third term.

I need to comment on the so-called issue of public opinion that it should be postponed until after the present incumbent. Is it public opinion or the views of a vocal minority? At any point in time, we want to make amendments, there must always be an incumbent. Most countries do not have tenure, if somebody is not doing well, after four years he is voted out.

Bauchi

NO

The document is containing the good, the bad and the ugly. I will comment on the good and I will leave the bad and the ugly for us to sort out. I like the proposals on local governments and immunity and I support the increase in derivation, but I fear that sentiments will not allow these proposals to succeed. Myself and my constituency are totally against the amendment of this constitution for now, we should leave it until after the next general election.

The proponents of tenure extension have been canvassing their views on the assumption that tenure extension is the same as the continuity of good programmes. My constituency and the state in general are saying no to third term or sad term.

Any amendment being made to favour an individual interest is not good for democracy.

Bayelsa

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I am in support of all amendments that tend to strengthen our institutions and against all amendments that tend to weaken our institutions. I am in support of rotation but between the zones and that is after the12 years tenure of the South-West is completed and when it is expected to come to the South-South.

The entire issue on tenure, whether those for or against, is about the control of the resources in the Niger Delta.

The basic principles of amending a constitution are justice, fairness and equity. We have defeated ourselves by claiming that the country is based on a tripod. Local government should be the responsibility of the state to cater for. On the third term, I will follow the decision of my people. My people have decided, when the time comes, I will express their wish. 

Benue

For me and my people, we are totally against tenure elongation. If somebody thinks he is good enough, he can do two terms of eight years and step down and later come back.

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As far as the people of Benue are concerned, they do not see too much problem with the constitution of 1999 as it is. Where I am coming from, we are against tenure elongation as it will bring a lot of problems to this country. The issue of tenure of two terms of four years each should not be tampered with, it has not been practised long enough.

Borno

The whole process of this exercise is based on sentiment and not on morality. We are looking at how we can arrive at a balance.

Since my committee has proposed this option, I have been asked several questions by journalists regarding my position, I have kept my position to myself because I know that today will come. If we have credible elections, there is no problem with elongation of tenure. That is why people have said that the third term is for Obasanjo. I can’t deny my committee’s recommendation because I was part of them. 

I support removal of immunity. No comment on third term.   

Cross River

I support the amendment because the present constitution has serious defects. Our decisions are not based on morality, but on political positions of our states. My people said they don’t support term limit.

I support the items being proposed for amendment. I will vote accordingly when the time comes.

I disagree with those who are opposed to the amendment of the constitution now, who want the amendment at a latter date. Anytime the constitution is being amended, there will always be an incumbent President. As a party person, I am bound by the position of my party on the amendment of the constitution.

It is sad we have decided to over heat the polity because of a single amendment. I will make my position known on term limit during voting. Rotation of power suggests that we are not yet integrated. I am in support of rotation but only at the federal level but not at the state. Let’s see how it works at the federal level before trying it in the states. 

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Amendment of the constitution is not discriminatory. He (Obasanjo) will face the primaries, he will face the electorate who could either support him or deny him. The decision depends on the electorate, not any political party. I support the amendment of the constitution to give the President four more years.

I believe strongly that power should rotate not just between North and South, but among geo-political zones and that the same should apply in the states. I want to appreciate the concern that has been demonstrated by all those that have spoken before me on the issue of derivation… The Niger Delta region is one area that you cannot see roads, there is no power grid…

I am a member of the PDP. Every member of the PDP should support the amendment of the constitution. My constituents, my family and I support tenure elongation of four more years for the President and my governor.

My position is that nothing in this world is possible except what is ordained by God. If the proponent of the third term is doing it with faith in God, to reduce corruption and to foster unity nothing including intimidation can stop them.

It is surprising that the only headache in this exercise is the elongation of tenure. Since that is the bone of contention, if we limit the tenure of the president and the governors, they will be completely disenfranchised when you say go for two terms only. We are, by so doing, terminating their freedom of association. We, the senators, are enjoying endless tenure, but the executive does not. Tenure limits should be determined by when a person is voted out of office.

Edo

We were guided in the JCCR by what is in the best interest of Nigeria and I feel proud to be part of the committee that has brought these recommendations here. What the amendment simply means is that instead of limiting somebody to two terms, you now limit the person to three terms. Again, it is not automatic that any person at the national level or the state level will get an automatic re-election. I believe that Obasanjo is the best for this country. He has been able to free this country from under-development and poverty and if he is persuaded to accept to run again, then it will be good. 

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It is a pity that it (elongation) is being woven around the person of President Olusegun Obasanjo. As a representative of Edo North, I will vote in accordance with the views of my people.

The Constitution is a national document and it is what suits the people of Nigeria that we should want.
I canvass for the removal of criminal immunity, anybody who says that criminal immunity should be retained must have criminal tendencies. I agree that derivation should be increased, but I want the people to feel the impact and this can be done by tying budgets to projects.

I do know that some people in the past have proposed five-year single tenure, two terms of four years and three terms of four years. I will agree that a new direction should be looked into, if you have been tested twice and you feel you are popular with Nigerians, and you feel you have done well and the people will vote for you, anybody who wants to go for third term should come out as an independent candidate.

Ekiti

Nigerians will always elect their leaders and whoever they elect is elected, so be it. Let the constitution be amended as recommended.

We don’t need to amend the constitution for President Obasanjo. The bane of the polity is succession. We don’t need to amend the constitution because of the performance of the President. If we have a non-performing President, are we now going to amend the constitution to reduce his tenure?

It is not good to amend the constitution for the sake of a person. I am not in support of third term and my people are not in support of third term. But if power shifts to the North, then we must rotate everything and all ministries now in the North should be rotated to the South such as Agric and FCT.

While America is making every effort towards giving more powers to the states, here in Nigeria, we have been inching towards unilateralism. I suggest that we should have equal number of states in all the geo-political zones. Ekweremadu was to say in a signed statement later: May I state without any iota of ambiguity that I am in total support of the amendment which would guarantee an extra tenure for the President and governors. 

Senate President, Ken Nnamani (Enugu) presides over the debate

I support power rotation North and South and I want to say that there should be rotation at the state level. I am a loyal party member of the most popular party in Africa. I support extension of tenure for the President.
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Third term is not ideal for the good of the people of this country.

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Those who are arguing for tenure elongation have some interest and they have some principles surrounding their claim. Those arguing against it have some interest and have some principles guiding them too. We can go ahead with the amendment but with a proviso that the present officers do not benefit from the amendment.

Our aim should not be to satisfy the political interests of a few individuals. We have been mandated to take a position and we, the three senators (from Imo) support elongation.

We want the constitution to be amended to provide for three terms of four years each.

This is the first time that elected representatives of Nigerians are directly making inputs into the making of our constitution. This proposed constitution intends to relax the process of state creation and the people of the South-East have been agitating for an additional state, but there is no way we can do that without amending the constitution. My constituents are in support of upping the minimum derivation from the present 13 per cent to 18 per cent. My constituency and my entire state and myself as representative of Imo North support three terms of four years for the President and governors.

Elongation of tenure is not for development but just about greed. On this I know my decision will hurt some people, but I have decided to take the part of honour.

Elongation is a cancer, it is a disease, it is unconstitutional. None of us is sent here to come and legalise illegality or to moralise immorality. This country was not created by God for an individual. It was created by God for all Nigerians.

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My constituents believe that of the over 120 million people, one person does not have wisdom of governance. My people say, extension in whatever guise, whether third term, elongation etc should be rejected.  

We are here amending a constitution as if we are doing  a book review. We are looking at 116 amendments just to satisfy one man. All the rigmarole is about tenure elongation. The life of this administration terminates in 2007. Period! Read my lip, third term is not in the interest of Nigeria or Nigerians

I have had consultations with my constituents on the issue of rotation and it appeals to us that there should be rotation between North and South and also at the state level. On 24th of April, I had a meeting with my constituents and the preponderance of views was against the elongation of the office of President.

We have no problem with the increase of derivation to 18 per cent, but there should be a clause to stop the abuses because if the 13 per cent was well utilised, many of the problems of the South-South would have been addressed. My constituents are of the view that two terms of four years is enough to do good for this country. We support the retention of two terms and reject three terms of four years.
 

No comment. I will make my decision known during voting.

My people do not want the amendment of the constitution. They do not support third term.

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Our position on term elongation is unequivocal. My constituents are not in support of third term. Creation of additional states in the South-East is a ploy to enlist their support for third term. We must unmask this masquerade behind third term. All past leaders including General Ibrahim Babangida, General Yakubu Gowon and Major General Muhammadu Buhari have advised him (President Obasanjo) against third term. 

My constituents are strongly opposed to the elongation of tenure.

We should obliterate all references to tenure elongation from this document. Elongation or extension in my mind is the extension of the suffering of Nigerians. Mr. President should be grateful to God Almighty and Nigerians for giving him the opportunity to serve three times as Head of State. From prison to the villa, let him go in 2007.

We support rotation between North and South especially since we have included justice in our coat of arms, power should rotate among the zones. On tenure, I support the position of my party and I will go with the dictates of my party.

Today, I am happy to be alive to witness this debate. I am particularly happy because I am not a prisoner of my conscience. I have consulted my people and others in Nigeria and part of the international community. The main problem that we have starts from succession. We know exactly what happened to Gen. Gowon who after serving nine years wanted elongation. Today, we are talking about our patriotic and nationalistic leader... He has spent seven years on the throne and this man has contributed immensely and has earned his respect not only in Nigeria but worldwide. 

Before you take a decision, let us look at the merits and demerits (of third term). It is not easy to groom a statesman overnight. IBB (General Ibrahim Babangida) tried it and failed. Abacha tried it also and failed. The circumstances of the moment need to be analysed. President Clinton of the United States left because of constitutional limitations but he did well for his country. His successor took USA to war... The totality of what I am saying is we should analyse it critically. 

On the elongation of tenure, I will make my opinion known during voting.

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It is unfair for us to weave all the amendments we are proposing around the issue of term limit. I am against term limit in all its ramifications. We have Britain, France and Germany and all the great countries do not have term limits. The greatest enemies of this country are those who are afraid of change and whether they like it or not, change will come. Term limit is against democratic principles and I believe that it should be eliminated from the constitution.

The problem of this country is not the constitution, but the problem of this country is from the operators of the constitution. If only they will be honest, this country will be a better place. We should not believe that we have a document that will take us to El Dorado. If the provisions of this constitution had been faithfully applied, this country would have been a better place.

There are many things that are good in this constitutional amendment. Let me correct one impression that tenure elongation is meant for an individual. We are not amending the constitution for an individual.
I beg that we should support the amendments as proposed as they will move the country forward.

On this matter I have consulted widely and I do recall that my state government supports tenure extension. On the 23rd of April, I held a constituency meeting where the issue was discussed and there was a division. Whereas my state government supports tenure extension and quite a number of people spoke against it, but the dominant view was in support.

My people believe in dialogue and peace. I have a peculiar situation in my state. My state is 100 per cent PDP in all tiers of government, federal, state and local governments and we will remain in PDP.

Going through the 1999 constitution, you will see that that was not the constitution of the people. And this is shown in the provisions for the creation of states… after Zamfara, there is nothing else to allow the creation of more states... The President has solved many of our problems and increased our foreign reserves. Those that are saying go away, go away have an eye on this money. No way, everything in the amendment bill is good for this country. We should not allow them to come back and squander the resources of this country, they did it before and they want to come back and do it again. God bless Nigeria, God Bless Mr. President, God bless the Senate.

I am a Nigerian, member of the PDP and a member of the PDP Board of Trustees. We say we are operating a democracy where people have the right to express their rights and to differ. An instrument of terrorism was unleashed on the number two man in a party that he was a foundation member. (And apparently referring to Senator Nnamani, he said): Take us into confidence, tell us what you promised Baba and we will follow you. But if not, we will defeat you in this chamber.

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I do not intend to waste your time. A lot of people have said that they support the party’s position but in my own case, this does not stand. My constituents said it has to be two-term of four years. It is only those who have not stayed in the Niger Delta that will not support an increase in derivation.  

My people want third term and they asked me to speak for them. Therefore, I support third term. I support creation of states for South-East and 18 per cent derivation.  

Our committee recommended third term for the president and governors.

We do not believe in power rotation between the North and South but among the six-geo political zones. My people want third term because of the war against corruption of the present administration, the banking reform, the international recognition and debt forgiveness.

There have been a lot of hue and cry about the defect in the constitution since 1999 and this why people want it to be reviewed. Therefore, the exercise is in order. We do not believe in the limitation of power for one reason: It is undemocratic.

I support all the recommendations and particularly tenure elongation. I want to appeal to individual Senators that today one person is there, tomorrow another person will be there. So, it is illogical to fix the personality of one person to the amendment. I have gone to my state, I have gone to my senatorial district and I have a mandate to support it. I equally support derivation.

I do not believe that the end product of the constitution review was genuinely achieved. The presenter of the document (Senator Mantu) has said that it is the view of Nigerians, but I disagree. It is their view and that of a select group of people and governors and the presidency. Third term is the main intention of the sponsors of this bill and all other amendments are just appendages.     

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People say we should be promoting institutions rather than individuals and they are right, but we don’t promote institutions overnight. Majority of Nigerians do not particularly care where the President comes from, but they want to see food on their table and shelter. We believe that we should allow the gains of the last seven years to mature.

We always want to compare ourselves with USA or Britain but we have forgotten that we are barely 46 years old. A child must learn to crawl before working. I support the elongation of tenure as proposed in the draft bill.

I want to say that the Joint Committee on Constitution Review (JCCR) has done a Let me say here that I have not received any money. If armed robbers are taking notes, please let them take note that I have not collected any money. I have no problem with the amendment of the constitution, but the process of making a product is as good as the product itself. A governor was seen directing proceeding at the public hearing, this is enough to void that hearing because that is against our rule. I do not support rotation. I am a detribalised Nigerian. I voted for Obasanjo in 1999, I voted for Abiola during June 12 election. I do not support third term.

Let us not be presumptuous and let us not personalise it, so we should not drag our President into this. We all have our term limits and let us rise up to our roles that there should be no term elongation.
 

The idea of having rotational presidency will not reflect the best in us at any particular time. Any amendment that we should do in this hallowed chamber to favour any individual should be discouraged.

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We cannot continue to be hostages of our dictatorial and sterile past. We must now move ahead to have a constitution reflective of our present and our future aspirations which will serve us and our children. I appeal to every one of us to subordinate our individual, partisan and sectional interest to the general good of the nation. Our democracy can only prosper if everyone is heard to express his or her own opinion in the (Senate) chambers and outside without any let or hindrance. It is a basic tenet of democracy everywhere in the world that we function by a majority. We should not be ruled by emotion, but by reason.

What we are talking of is a shift of the limitation of term limit from two terms to three terms. This need not cause a controversy if after all he will be voted for. My people stand on the position of the party. 

I am from the South-South, the Niger Delta which is the most marginalised but yet the goose that lays the golden egg. Considering the fact that the current President still has an unfinished business in the Niger Delta and that the devil we know is better than the angel we do not know… I am a loyal party man and I will do what my party wants me to do.

My people support constitutional amendment but not third term. Whatever constitution we are making should not be tailored towards one individual. What we should bequeath to our people should be based around institutions.

Why in a hurry to amend the constitution? Is it because of one man? My state, Sokoto State, is saying no to the amendment of the constitution. 
very good job. My people support increase in derivation but it should be gradual.

The public hearing that was done on this constitution amendment bill is the most thorough done ever for any law in this National Assembly. We believe in using clear glasses. People are using third term to campaign for the presidency of this country. The question you should ask is: if the name of Olusegun Obasanjo is not mentioned in third term, what will be their position? If the names of their governors are not mentioned, what will be their positions? Britain has life term.

What we are doing is amending the whole constitution and is not just one aspect as some people believe that we what we are doing is just to add to the tenure.

The issue of power rotation is not good in a democracy. I want to caution that if the local governments are given autonomy, we should equally make a provision where they will be checked. The issue of third term is now heating up the polity and 95% of the common man does not believe in it. If I may ask, to what advantage is third term? Can’t our economic reform agenda be sustained without third term?

Some people call it elongation, others call it extension and others call it third term, but I call it dubious. I totally reject the process of constitution review because of the insincerity involved in the process.

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My constituents support the position taken by my governor (Governor Abba Ibrahim of Yobe State). On derivation, my people support 18 per cent derivation and the retention of the immunity clause as it is. Presidents and governors should be made to declare their assets immediately after their tenure. 

The whole review is centred on third term. Other issues are just a smokescreen. Two terms of four years is enough. We should reject third term. Every Nigerian should reject it. 

There are about 150 million Nigerians, we cannot say that only one is the best. It is a dangerous precedent for this country to amend the constitution for the benefit of one individual. This country belongs to all of us.

On the issue of tenure elongation, I have been vindicated. When I said it that time that President Obasanjo was interested, they said it was speculative. This administration has consistently marginalised other zones except South-West. Nigerians are ready to take the law into their hands over third term and I hope my colleagues will see reason.

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That I am opposed to third term is no news. The sit-tight attitude of African leaders is responsible for the crises we have in Africa today. If he (President Obasanjo) hands over, he will become one of the world’s most democratic heroes. I am appealing to President Olusegun Obasanjo to change.