Obasanjo and a third-term ambition, 2
Statement By Human Rights Activists and
Representatives of Civil
Society on the Political Agenda of
President Olusegun Obasanjo
We, the undersigned activists and representatives of Nigerian
civil
society and various human rights organizations, concerned
about the
state of democracy in our fatherland;
*Worried that Nigeria appears to be on the drift to anarchy,
lawlessness and break down of rule of law and due process
under
President Olusegun Obasanjo, and that like a bad dream, the
spectre of
a sit-tight dictatorship looms in Nigeria once again, less
than eight
years after the brutal dictatorship of General Sani Abacha;
*Concerned, that having waited patiently in the hope that
President
Olusegun Obasanjo on whose behalf opportunistic and
sycophantic
messengers have being mounting a third term campapign, would
intervene
decisively to re-assure Nigerians that it is not true, that he
intends
to abuse and desecrate the Constitution;
*Worried that it has become clear that the third term agenda
is no
longer a joke, but a grand design by undemocratic forces to
fritter
away our hard-won democracy, for which some of our colleagues
and
scores of other Nigerians died;
*Convinced, that with "all the President's men" now in the
forefront of
this unholy campaign, it is quite clear that it is a plan
being
executed at the behest of President Obasanjo or, at the very
least,
with his blessings;
*Further convinced, that it is a monumental tragedy in our
time, that
the greatest beneficiary of this democracy would seek to
sacrifice it
all, at the altar of personal ambition;
*Recounting that the late General Sani Abacha took us down
this same
road only in recent years, when he manipulated every aspect of
the
political programme to achieve his ambition to remain in
office as
President after the end of his transition programme;
*Noting the parallels that exist between General Sani Abacha's
political machinations and manipulations, and President
Olusegun
Obasanjo's ongoing corruption of the present political system;
*Particularly, the manipulation of the major political
parties, causing
divisions in their ranks and propping up individuals who are
amenable
to his undemocratic ambition. And the manipulation of the
ruling
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), through a membership
re-registration
exercise and holding of party congresses even in violation of
court
orders, and whose sole objective is to oust from the party all
dissenting voices and opposition to President Obasanjo's third
term
agenda;
*Noting Further, the manipulation of the constitutional reform
process
to make it possible for President Obasanjo to "serve" a third
term,
through a selective amendment of the Constitution and reports
of plans
to corrupt the legislative arms of government and the States'
and
National Assembly levels, aimed mainly at extending President
Obasanjo's rule;
*And Curiously, the failure of the Independent Corrupt
Practices and
Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to act and investigate
these
reports, when these bodies are usually quick to investigate
allegations against the President's "enemies" or former
lackeys who
have fallen out of favour,;
*Anxious, that Nigeria, does not again descend into arbitrary
and
undemocratic rule in view of the increasing intimidation and
harassment of dissenting voices and opposing views across the
country
and repression of the media by the intelligence and law
enforcement
agencies, who have become ready tools for despotism;
*Further anxious, that the credibility and integrity of the
anti-corruption process have been seriously compromised
through their
use as political weapons of intimidation and elimination of
opponents
of President Obasanjo;
We, the undersigned activists and representatives of various
Nigerian
civil society and human rights organizations hereby resolve as
follows:
1. To launch a campaign of action and challenge of the looming
emergence dictatorship in Nigeria. As we have done in similar
circumstances in the past, we as civil society organizations,
stand
united and will defend our democracy and our fatherland. We
are
returning to the trenches and to the barricades from where we
fought
military dictatorship to a standstill, to once again fight
another
kind of dictatorship.
2. We immediately resolve to boycott participation in all
events
including public hearings being organised by the Senator
Ibrahim Mantu
led committee in the National Assembly to amend the
Constitution.
3. We further ask the current National and State Houses of
Assembly across the country, to defer request all moves to
amend the
Constitution until the Electoral Law is passed and a free,
fair and
transparent election is conducted in 2007, in line with the
current
1999 Nigerian Constitution.
4. We call on President Olusegun Obasanjo to publicly, clearly
and
unequivocally announce that he will not seek to amend the
current
Nigerian Constitution, and if asked will not accept to remain
in
office under any circumstance, as President of the Federal
Republic of
Nigeria, beyond May 29, 2007.
5. We urge all Nigerians people to be alert to the clear and
present danger facing Nigeria and to stand with us for the
sake of
their future, the future of their children, and the future of
our
country, in opposition to dictatorship and arbitrary rule.
6. We will wage a vigorous and sustained battle and will not
be
deterred by the harassment and intimidation of our members,
the signs
of which are already evident.
Signed:
1. Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti Centre for Constitutional Governance
2. Olisa Agbakoba HURILAWS
3. Clement Nwankwo Constitutional Rights Project
4. Mike Ozekhome Universal Defenders of Democracy
5. Richard Akinnola Centre for Free Speech
6. Festus Okoye Human Rights Monitor
7. Priscilla Achakpa Women Environmental Project
8. Edetaen Ojo Media Rights Agenda
9. Bamidele Aturu Democratic Alternative
10. Abiodun Aremu United Action for Democracy
11. Y.Z. Ya'u CITAD
12. Dominic Ogankpa Justice, Development and Peace Commission
13. Olanrewaju Suraj Citizens Assistance Centre
14. Santos Ayuba Laraba League for Human Rights
15. Gad Peter League for Human Rights
16. Mma Odi RUWEN
17. Fabian Okoye Global Rights
18. Femi Falana West African Bar Association
19. Lanre Arogundade International Press Centre
20. Jibrin Ibrahim Global Rights
21. Tunde Aremu International Press Centre
22. George Mary
23. Ndubisi Obiorah Centre for Law and Social Action
24. Innocent Chukwuma Transition Monitoring Group
25. Titus Mann Civil Liberties Organization
26. Ibrahim Muazzam Centre for Research and Development
27. Mimidoo Achakpa Women's Right to Education Program
28. Clement Wasah Comm. Action for Popular Participation
29. Mohammed G. Wuyo Borno Coalition for Development
