The guardian
Wednesday, August 22, 2001
Ezeife urges two years extension for Obasanjo, other elected officers

From Emmanuel Onwubiko,

John Abba Ogbodo (Abuja) and

Hendrix Oliomogbe (Benin)

COMING on the heels of recent campaigns for the re-election of President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003, Special Adviser on Political Matters to the President, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, has called for the extension of the tenure of the elected public officers beyond 2003.

Ezeife who spoke to The Guardian in Abuja, also canvassed the immediate reform of the electoral system to allow elected officers to stay for another two years in office, beginning from May 29, 2001.

His words: "With an effective reform of the electoral process, which is still possible within the time available from now, not so many incumbents may return, we should allow all elected persons to remain in office for two more years from May 29 2001".

Ezeife disclosed that if his proposal was accepted then, the governors and the President cannot contest elections to directly succeed themselves after the six years, just as he asserted that the same constraint cannot be imposed on the legislators.

The presidential aide said the electoral reform being canvassed would ensure not only a more level playing field but will give ample time for the drafting of a new constitution.

He added that also the proposal if accepted, will decrease the political tension in the land, channel more funds for development rather than the ugly trend where fund are stacked for electoral purpose.

On the issue of constitutional conference canvassed by most people, the presidential aide endorsed the call even as he suggested the composition should be based on proportional representation from the six geo-political zones.

Ezeife also predicted the demise of Alliance for Democracy AD) and the emergence of a vibrant progressive party.

In a related development, Presidential Liaison Officer to the Senate (PLO) Alhaji Ibrahim Kassim Imam at the weekend in Maiduguri, Borno State urged Nigerians to vote an Olusegun Obasanjo and Atiku Abubakar ticket in 2003.

Imam made the call amid endorsement of Obasanjo ticket by some top members of the All Peoples Party (APP) in the state, including the Governor, Alhaji Malla Kachalla.

The PLO who, shortly before the National Assembly went on recess, said the incumbents should be allowed a second term, reiterated his stand in all the local government areas he visited for mobilisation.

He told his audience including the Shehu of Borno that the state had had more than its fair share of Federal Government largesse in this dispensation, maintaining that only an assured second term ticket for Obasanjo would put the state at par with its counterparts. He further said that his official visit to the state, the first since he assumed office was to canvass for Obasanjo's second term.

In the same vein, Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Chief Joel Chukwukadibia has led his voice to the call for an Obasanjo -Atiku ticket in 2003.

Speaking with reporters yesterday in Benin, Edo State where he met House of Assmbly Speaker, Mathew Egbadon, Chukwukadibia explained that he came to the Edo State capital enroute Delta and Anambra mainly to gather support for Obasanjo's re-election in 2003.

Giving reasons why he is in the forefront for a second term for the President, the Imo Speaker said that as a matter of fact, Obasanjo has proved that he is not only a man of courage but also consistently and a great listener who has sincerely set out to redress the issue of Igbo marginalisation by successive governments.

He said that most major roads in the East which were death traps are being massively rehabilitated so also is the Owerri telephone exchange. "Obasanjo has shown courage. He listens and that is why he has refused to hike the prices of petroleum products. You must know that he has also digitalised the Owerri telephone exchange. Some major roads like the Aba-Owerri, Onitsha-Owerri and of course the Benin-Asaba is being rehabilitated. So, why won't I support him?" he queried.

So what Obasanjo's camp is advocating right now is an extension of Obasanjo's milking and squandering period in order to buy time and money to cement his sticky and bloody feet in Aso Rock. My people say that when a puppy is about to die his sense of smell for faeces fails him. Therefore, Obasanjo is getting carried away by the illusory presence of his imported US military personnel "supposedly re-training his guards."

I have told you folks the elite is a lost cause. What you are reading here is a tip of the iceberg as to what is happening at home. The stupidity of these people is beyond comprehension, my advice to every sane Igbo abroad is to shun this jokers.Do not oblige them when they come visiting and tell them the truth to their greedy faces.

Tufiakwa!

Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Okwadike, PhD Harvard, Ex civilian guv Anambra State, Member AD, Member OhanEZE, Political Adviser to Aremu(PDP president)!

What is his style?
~ Told the Igbos they should be thankful for whatever they're getting?

~ Told an Igbo Attorney to "GO to Hell"?

~ Said he fought cleanly even when he boasted "we must do something to keep this people in check" and some Biafran intellectuals were butchered and buried under his command after cessation of fire?

~Distorted facts as to the cause of the civil war in other to create enmity b/w the Igbos and there neighbours?

~ Asked Udenwa to show where he is marginalised while the gully erosions in Imo continues to claim lives and properties?

~ Sporty killing of unarmed MASSOB members while allowing the northern savages and criminal OPC to roam free?

~ Kidnapping Chief Uwazurike at will and probably for the fun of it and to show how much power he's got

~ Commanding the Igbos not to hold a memorial for their war dead?

Enter the Imo State Assembly Speaker of the House "Chief" Joel Chukwukadibia, who suddenly has endorsed Obasanjo-Atiku Abubakar ticket, come 2003. What is exactly wrong with these bastards? Egwu di.