By Kazeem Ugbodaga
Lawyers and human rights activists in the country have kicked against the second term ambition of President Umaru Yar’Adua, saying he should forget it because he has failed Nigerians woefully.
Firing the first salvo, activist and constitutional lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay, said the president has not done anything tangible to warrant a second term for him, but noted that he might change in the next 18 months.
“He has not performed; he is not qualified for a second term. Apart from the Niger Delta issue, he has done nothing to warrant him going for a second term,” he said.
In his own comment on the ruling party’s decision to field Yar Adua again for the 2011 election, Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Oluwatosin Akeredolu (SAN), said it is the president’s personal decision to go for a second term, “but if I am to advise him, I will rather not take this country through another tortuous four years as we are going through now.”
He said there was no justification for Yar’Adua thinking of a second term because he had not performed, adding: “We will beg him not to stay for another four years; he should go and attend to other personal matters.”
According to Barrister Allen Agbaka, “Yar’Adua is not a fit and proper person to come back because he has refused to disclose the nature of his ailment. A president needs good health to govern a country. He should have been removed because of the legal implications of his health.
“A man whose medical state is doubtful should not come back. We all know how the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi died and he disclosed his ailment to the people, even when he was not a public officer.”
He added that the president had failed in his seven-point agenda, saying that on that basis, he should not be allowed to come back for a second term.
On whether Yar Adua should be allowed to rule the country again for a second term, the immediate past Convener, United Action for Democracy, Comrade Biodun Aremu said Yar’Adua and all his cohorts should not be allowed to come back for a second term. “What Nigeria need now is a major political revolution to kick out those corrupt people in government,” he stated.
National President, Campaign for Democracy (CD), Dr. Joe-Okei Odumakin said she will not support Yar’Adua for a second term in office because he has performed woefully.
She lamented the poor state of power in the nation, insecurity and others, saying that the current move to deregulate the oil sector was terrible.
“If our votes count, he can’t return to power. He should stay out of governance because he has no business there,” she stressed.
President, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), Comrade Debo Adeniran, said it would be a disaster for the country for Yar Adua to return for a second term.
He described the Yar’Adua administration as a total failure, as virtually every sector of the economy had collapsed, adding: “We don’t want somebody who will further collapse the economy.”
In his own contribution to the debate, an activist, Toyin Raheem, asked: “How can somebody who has not performed seek for a second term in office? It is ridiculous. If the National Assembly knows what it is doing, he should have been removed since.”
He lamented that the president’s seven-point agenda has not taken the country anywhere because none of them has come to fruition. He said Nigerians should be on the streets now protesting against him.
“Yar’Adua does not deserve to be in power, even for a day. There is abject poverty in the land and he is not doing anything about it,” he stated.
President, Arewa Youth Forum, Comrade Yerima Shetima, said the president has not achieved anything and should not think of going for a second term.
Summing up the anger of our respondents, National Publicity Secretary of the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), Mr. Yinka Odumakin said: “In a proper country, Yar Adua should not be dreaming of a second term. In two years, he has messed up the country. He is not in charge, but the hawks in his cabinet have taken over.
“For him to think of a second term is wickedness and Nigerians should not allow it to happen.”
umunnam
23 November 2009 14:45yaradua listen now before you turn to abacha.leave seat and attend to your failing health.a word is enough for the wise.
omo kabiyesi
23 November 2009 14:46Yardua please go and take care of yourself,Phee Dee phee [PDP] or any other person that is advising you to continue is your number one enemy.please go and rest.out of your seven point wahala you could not fulfil even only one,so please just go and rest.
fred
23 November 2009 15:29pls we are voting in Raji Fasola of Lagos state………………….as our next presidooo
Dejo
23 November 2009 15:38Hmmmmmmmmmmm. Na wa for naija. Let’s wait and see how the ’show’ plays out again. But this time around, ‘egungun be careful’
WeyDem
23 November 2009 15:47Wetin you guys mean sef, Yar’Dua must complete his two-term 8yr rule just like mgbati OBJ did, it is our turn now, mindless people are asking him to leave. Wereee na him all of you be. Shege
okey
23 November 2009 15:49yar;dua or what ever you are called,there is a saying that “a stuborn fly follows the corpse to the grave”,either you quit NOW and find solution to your failing health problem or you die on seat like fellow aboki brother Abacha.A word is enough……….
hon fred omoigberai in uk
23 November 2009 15:52apology to nigerians at home and in diaspora for participating in a pdp primary that produced yaradua as a presidential candidate. even if my vote would have counted at the eagle square, it will mean nothing because there was an instruction that he had been endorsed as a concensus candidate, but casting my vote at all is what i regrets profusely. the president admiitted thereafter that the election that brought him to power was floored, elfusion of time will ease him out of office to face his serious health challenges which to my mind is more important than nigerian state matters. he has paid his dues and will forever be referred to as a president of nigeria, allowing him to add nigeria burden of governance to his health challenges will create serious dislocations paving way for unelected to run govt affairs as it is today. i read with nostalgia about unelected persons writing national assembly members on issues they know nothing about advising them wrongly on national issues and attempting to claim credit for constitutional matters. pdp has failed nigeria, except pdp is rebranded and strong dynamic opposition emerges, political revolution appear to be the alternative in the next 12 months, the hand writing started with boko haram and it will spread soonest
BAS
23 November 2009 15:55Jesus was not praised when he was alived. Most people complaning about Yaradua cannot even manage thier homes, the man has tried,if possible he we lead Nigeria to promising land. If yu think the man is not heatlly do not be suprised that God can still make him to spend another 25 years.Yaradua move on and carry go.
Tell me More
23 November 2009 16:26One step forward (OBJ), two steps backward (Yar’dua). We can’t wait for “his first term” to end
Okpella A.I.P
23 November 2009 16:44Lives issue is the hands of Almigthy God i.e why I can’t comments on mr president the state of his health conditons. Also my advance to every one on these reguards should set a watch over his/her lips concerning mr president. Lets focus our critises on the veiw of the general assencement of the pdp admistration for the pass yrs they are in power, together God will lead this nation we both love out oneday to our expecting glorious future of this great country with great pple.
taiwo olajide
23 November 2009 17:03Somebody who even confirmed tha he was a product of corruption should not come back at all, just let us pray for long live for him.
Val O.
23 November 2009 17:05For Yaradua to start thinking of second term, He is making a very big mistake because he has failed Nigeria as a whole, even after his first tenure He is not worthy to be addressed as former President Federal Republic of Nigeria because he has proved to be the worst president Nigeria ever had.
NTEYEN
23 November 2009 17:07Yar Adua should not think of 2nd term ambition bcos of his health condition, even the blind man and the lame man can testify that he is not fit to rule country. We are even praying that God should strenghten him to complete this 1st term, it will be out of place for him and his political party to think of 2nd term. Proves are on ground to show that he has failed. I hope as im writing right now, he is not in abroad on health ground. If votes really count in NIGERIA i belive no one will vote for him for 2nd term. Afterall he was given a surprise package at the eleventh hour to go for presidency against his wish, now we see his unreadiness and lack of vision for Nigeria. I only blame OBJ for allowing a man who did not know what it takes to campaign for presidency. This is just a camouflag to cover up corruption . There are thousands of willing and capable Nigerians who are ready to turn this country around for good, yet corrupt politicians wont give them chance to rule.
AJIBOLA OLOGUNEBI (USA)
23 November 2009 17:13I BEG NOBODY SHOULD DRAG THIS MAN INTO 2ND TERM JAMBOREE BECAUSE HIS HEALTH HAS DETERIORATED. I WATCHED HIM ON THE TV WHEN THE SOUTH AFRICA VICE PRESIDENT VISITED NIGERIA ALAS I COULDN’T BELIEF WHAT I SAW. ANY PERSON OR GROUP OF PERSONS ADVOCATING HIS 2ND TERM IS YARDUA FOREMOST ENEMY. BUT AFRICAN LEADERS PREFER TO DIE ON THROWN THAN RELIQUISHING THE POWER…
Zira
23 November 2009 17:52I beg Umaru relation to convince him to go back to Katsina and take good care of his health rather than pretending to be president of Nigeria. Please that man is sick, they should chose another football they should dribble around, let them have mercy on Umaru. I beg.
Agbaje Ademola
23 November 2009 17:55Why should anybody be talking about second term for President Yar Adua? Has he done anything to deserve it? The answer is capital no. Let him better go and retire peacefully in Kastina. I think i can say without any fear that he is the worst President to have ever presided over Nigeria. Infact this President, has turned Obasanjo into something of a hero. I think it is a shame that the President is still hanging on to the Presidency, even when it is glaring that he is not measuring up. The rebranding of Nigeria should start in the Aso rock. Mr. President should lead by example. Even his not disclosing his sickness to Nigerians is unpatriotic.
God help us.
Dr Pat Kolawole Boboye
23 November 2009 18:14PDP-Yar’dua’s adviser-Alaibe and his likes especially PDP generally including David Mark and Dimeji Bankole are all corruption ridden and failed politicians whose goals are to continue to loot,and steal our nation dry.PDP-UMaru Yar’dua is very sick and terminal sickler who is due to be flown out to Saudi Arabia or Germany again for being incapacitated on health ground.But still these political zealots who are criminals that must face firing squard if revolution should set in soon in Nigeria are only after what they are able to loot and embezzle from the nation’s seat of power, not to provide adequate power,good roads,modern health care and quality education for Nigerians.They are desperate and planning to retain INEC-Iwu to perform the same 2007-electoral rigging and votes allocations again to the incapacitated asickler- Umaru-Yar’dua and PDP nationwide.THis is why Mark said recently that INEC Iwu is not the electoral problem but Nigerians.PDP plans to retains Iwu-INEC to rig and manipulate again.Nigerians must be prepare for a serious show down and revolt against the enemies of the nation and its citizenry-PDP-Yar’dua and cohorts like Anenih,Ibori,Alaibe etc. Dr Pat kolawole Boboye,Canada
jude
23 November 2009 18:34And who is fit to rule over nigeria without taking blood oath or sworn into a deadly evil cult such as those that rules and controls 90% of the political parties in NIgeria?
Duro Piri
23 November 2009 18:34I wonder what kind of democracy our so called activist are practicing. Yar Adua has the right to seek election for asecond time under Nigerian constitution. It’s only PDP that can refuse to make him their candidate.
Then the electorate will decide if they still want him to continue as the president.
It’s unfortunate that the activist are making a demand that violate another person’s right.
Have we come to the conclusion that whoever PDP present will automatically win the presidential election? If that is the case, then Nigerian masses will not be worth fighting for. The only struggle the so called right activist should engage in is to make sure the people come out to vote without anyone threatening them, and ensure the votes count in deciding who rule the country.
The presidential candidates of all the partiesshould campaign based on their vision to tackle the problems of the country and not asking someone else not to contest. It is not your business to prevent anyone from contesting an election, the constitution is there to decide that.
Naija 4 life
23 November 2009 18:46WETIN UNA DEY TALk, WETIN UNA DEY TALK SEF. MAke una nor make me vex at all, shuoo. A country deserves the kind of president it gets because the president is a product of the society. Look at the councilors to the president apart from one or two cases tell me which of them climbed to that position on the back of popular support? If you say the President should not come back then all of them should not because they have all failed the Nigeria state including you.
ogbeni naija
23 November 2009 19:42HAVEN’T YOU HEARD THAT THE OFFICE OF THE NIGERIAN PRESIDENCY IS VACANTS? SO WHY WORRYING YOURSELVES WHEN GOD HAS SPOKEN.PDP IS BUILDING EVIL STRUCTURE AND THE CHILDREN OF GOD ARE PULLING IT DOWN WITH PRAYERS,THEY HAVE FAILED PHISICALY AND SPIRITUALY.THEIR EFFORTS TO DESTROY THE NATION WILL EVER BE A FAILURE.
SBBIFY
24 November 2009 00:23God decision for Nigeria & Nigerians is the best. Please God deliver us from this oppression & these oppressor called PIN DEE PEOPLE.
Bankole
24 November 2009 01:53We all know that you don’t have to have any sense or have an idea of what it takes to ba a president, governor, etc, in NIGERIA. All you need is to have stolen money and a godfather you give a regular butt licking.
Yar’Adua does not even know where he is.Between paying homage to his masters in Saudi Arabia and kissing Obasanjo’s butt, he doesn’t even register on the richter scale of has been presidents. He is dull, lost, lack luster and out of his depths.
I will not be suprised however, if the PDP rigs him in again. In that, they have performed exellently.
Onukwuwe
24 November 2009 07:45It is a shame that our hospitals are not fixed. The president finds it convenient to leave the shores of our country for saudi arabia which should not have better facilities than nigeria but for our corrupt leaders. You had better fix our own hospitals if not out of patrotism but for shame.
Vita Lis
24 November 2009 10:20I am beginning to wonder if Yaradua has conscience. Firstly, he openly confessed that the election that brought him into power was flawed. However, he went as far as defending the self-confessed flawed mandate in the highest court of the land. That in my opinion portrays him as an insincere and conscienceless fellow. If actually he is against the evils of election malpractice in Nigeria, he should not have accepted being part and parcel of it. Secondly, he used his exalted position to influence the judgment with his cohorts. Hence, we have decided to fight corruption, he should not be in the driver’s seat as he has reaped the proceeds there from. Thirdly, there is no serious achievement to be associated with his years in office as president, as we are undergoing more excruciating pains than ever. Fourthly, he was not able and courageous enough to fight corruption, the hydra-headed monster that has bedeviled Nigeria. He may be a good guy, but it takes more than that to rule Nigeria. He should therefore quietly go back to the classroom. That’s my humble advice.
edet
24 November 2009 10:57Those pushing Yaradua for 2nd term are mad and shuld be charged for treason. All they are interested is to steal our resources. Let the man go home and rest, get refreshed and enjoy with Turai. He should not die on the seat please as that will be a ci\urse not only to him but fot the nation. If Guinea had sent their ruler away on the ground of ill health, Nigerians should be ashamed of themselves - big for nothing. Where are the patrotic Nigerians. let you voice be heard on this matter, join our voices and demand the sick president to go and attend to his health : we deserve a better leader as a nation.
Lolomaro
24 November 2009 11:23Good health or not, Yaradua should just go period. He has failed the Nation, his so called 7points aganda has not yielded any positive result and he has less than 18months in office. Let him be honest with himself and his GOD Almighty he cant move this country foreward .Let our brothers in the North give us a better person to replace this Obasanjo’s man.
COO
24 November 2009 13:52I DONT WANT TO COMMENT ON YARADUA’S HEALTH BECAUSE EVERY BODY IS SICK, ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. NO DOUBT HE IS WORST PRESIDENT IN TERMS OF PERFORMANCE AND WOULDNT WANT TO RUN FOR THE SECOND TERM LEFT TO HIM. THE PROBLEM IS HIS WIFE WHO HAS TESTED POWER. SHE WILL NEVER ALLOW HIM TO REST UNTIL HE AGREES TO RUN. I LEARNT SHE THE ONE IN CHARGE AS WE SPEAK. LETS WAIT AND SEE WHAT HE WOULD TELL NIGERIAN DURING HIS CAMPAGNE FOR SECOND TERM. UNDER FREE AND FAIR ELECTION, HE WILL NEVER WIN. THATS THE TRUTH AND HE KNOWS IT. SO HE SHOULD JUST GO BACK TO HIS HOME TOWN. YOU CANT GIVE WHAT YOU DONT HAVE.
lawrence
24 November 2009 14:27my advice to mr Yar Adua is to delete is mind from this mision impossible,because he cannever win even baba Iyabo sleep in moris Iwu’s office or becomes the new INEC chairman.Yar Adua is the worst president so far in Nigeria history.he is the worst president in term of performance.MR SEVEN POINTS AGENDA MY CANDID ADVICE IS TO RETURN TO THE CLASS ROOM WHERE U BE LONG.