Botched 3rd term scheme:
Obasanjo group blasts lawmakers
…Asks for return of N2bn
By LUCKY NWANKWERE, Abuja
Wednesday,
May
24, 2006
Frustrated by the inability to realise the third term agenda,
the Obasanjo Solidarity Forum (OSF), yesterday labelled the
National Assembly corrupt and asked that it (National Assembly)
immediately return to government coffers the N2 billion, it
said, was wasted in trying to amend the 1999 Constitution
since 2001.
The campaign organisation for the actualisation of the now
dead tenure elongation for President Olusegun Obasanjo beyond
2007, said the national legislature began frittering away
the nation’s fund on constitutional amendment right
from under the leadership of the late Senator Haruna Abubakar.
The national co-ordinator of the organisation, Mallam Dauda
Ibrahim and national publicity secretary, Mr. Tunde Fagbohungbe,
addressed the State House correspondents in Abuja yesterday
during which they dismissed most members of the National Assembly
as fraudulent.
They particularly described the anti-third term legislators
who operate under the 2007 Movement platform as lacking in
vision.
"It is a great fraud to the society," they contended
and pledged to support any part of the constitution amendment
clauses if re-introduced by the next leader because, according
to it, very useful parts earmarked for amendment were thrown
out along with the tenure extension clause.
The duo commended President Obasanjo for accepting the outcome
of the debate, particularly the defeat of the tenure elongation,
describing him as "mature and fatherly".
"In a cool, calculating and leisurely manner, Mr. President
accepted the verdict of democracy as symbolised by what happened
in the National Assembly. Once again, we of OSF have been
proved right, that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo still remains the
elder statesman he is reputed to be, more visionary than Mandela,
greater than Clinton and more pacific than Bush," they
stated.
While describing the pro-third lawmakers as "gallant
and courageous," the organisation said it had begun search
for another presidential candidate for next year’s presidential
election.
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