9^th Safar, 1427AH (9^th March, 2006)

PRESS RELEASE

THIRD TERM AGENDA PROMOTES POLITICAL TENSION AND INSTABILITY IN THE COUNTRY

The prevailing political tension in the country, where attempts are being made to amend the 1999 constitution to elongate the tenure of the President and Governors for another term, is among the contributing factors that are promoting instability and unnecessarily heating up the polity in Nigeria.

Although the President is yet to make his position known on the volatile Third Term bid issue, we observed that it has been at the centre of all national discourse for months. The NMN joins the vast majority of Nigerians in condemning this bid, which is clearly unpatriotic, selfish and unethical. The network also condemn the alleged effort of the 29 out of the 36 state governors, including many respected Muslim governors and some from the opposition parties to the President’s, that are reportedly supporting and openly campaigning for the Third Term bid.

Party politics and programs should supersede that of an individual in a democracy. The issue of continuity should be addressed through party politics not single individuals. The NMN further believe that there is the need for the Government to enshrine whatever programs it has for Nigerians which it perceives as being good into its Party’s cardinal programs and manifesto, and allow Nigerians to decide through the ballot box.

We salute the courage of the 7 Governors - namely Orji Kalu (Abia), Bola Tinubu (Lagos), Chris Ngige (Anambra), Ibrahim Shekarau (Kano), Boni Haruna (Adamawa), Abdulqadir Kure (Niger) and Attahiru Bafarawa (Sokoto) - who refused to join this undemocratic charade. The NMN also calls on the Federal and State Legislators to resist any attempt to amend the constitution with the aim of prolonging the tenure of the President and Governors.

Finally, the NMN reminds the President that he has a moral responsibility to openly and unequivocally disassociate himself from the third term bid in addition to condemning those unpatriotic elements urging him to stay beyond his welcome. We call on fellow Nigerians to vehemently resist any attempt to amend the constitution to allow for third term for the President and other elected officials.

While the NMN greatly applauds the efforts of patriotic Nigerians to organize mass protests against the third term bid, we caution the organizers of such protests to ensure that the protests are completely peaceful and truly national in outlook. The government should also ensure that no public demonstration is allowed to degenerate into loss of lives and properties, especially in this democratic set up where properly arranged genuine protests should be permitted. Nigerians should henceforth hold the government absolutely responsible for any failure in protecting lives and properties of the citizens.

The Nigerian Muslim Network (NMN) is an Internet-based discussion group of hundreds of Nigerian Muslims mostly residing in Nigeria and in the Diaspora.

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