Professor of International Relations and Strategic Studies at Lagos State University, Adewunmi Falode, has called for a review of Nigeria’s constitution to allow a single, non-renewable term of seven years for elected public office holders.
Falode made the call on Tuesday while delivering LASU’s 115th inaugural lecture titled, “Bespoke Solutions: Reimagining, Reifying and Realigning the Wheels of the Nigerian State,” at the Buba Marwa Auditorium of the university.
His call aligned with those of Governor Seyi Makinde, former Governor Peter Obi, economist Pat Utomi, ex-President of the Nigerian Bar Association Wole Olanipekun (SAN), and ex-Deputy President of the Senate Ike Ekweremadu, who have advocated for a single term of between five and six years.
The scholar argued that Nigeria’s current two-term, four-year arrangement is “wasteful” and contributes to an “unstable, combustible and misaligned” political environment.
According to him, the system had consistently failed to deliver the dividends of democracy because elected officials barely enjoyed five months of undistracted governance before becoming entangled in post-election litigation and preparations for another election cycle.
Falode drew parallels with countries such as Mexico and the Philippines, which operate a single six-year term.
With a seven-year single tenure, he said, Nigerian political office holders would have at least four years of stable governance, while the remaining three years could accommodate campaigns and the resolution of election petitions.
Comments
Post a Comment