Tinubu: Single Tenure Plan is Dead on Arrival

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Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu may have stirred up a hornet's nest with his suggestion that the National Assembly should consider a two-year tenure for president and governors as his advocacy generated more reactions Thursday.

Former Lagos State Governor, Senator Bola Tinubu, who is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) dismissed the proposal, which he described as non-issue.

According to him, Ekweremadu's proposal will not fly, as it is dead on arrival.

The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) also rejected the plan and called on the Director General of State Security Service {SSS} and other relevant security agencies to as a matter of urgent national importance investigate the deputy senate president for his "treasonable statement."

Tinubu spoke on Ekweremadu's controversial statement yesterday at the public presentation of a book on the Emir of Borgu Kingdom, Alhaji Haliru Dantoro, in Abuja.

He said though the idea of bringing back the controversial single tenure elongation had not been officially raised, it remained a fruitless exercise, which would never materialise.

He said: "I heard from rumour another move for an elongation of tenure but I dare say forget it, it is dead on arrival. If the National Assembly is pursuing a constitutional amendment, then why do you need another proposal for amendment? "

He also faulted the federal government's claim on the quantity of crude oil that Nigeria is losing to oil thieves.

Tinubu explained that the 400,000 barrels figure that were regularly being reported as stolen has become suspicious as no thieve can maintain the record of scooping exactly the same quantity of oil each time he strikes.

"This is a lie. No thief can take the same number of barrel of oil on each attempt. The figure being dished out is too constant to be true; that figure is only in the book and it is about promoting corruption," he added.

He said what was more worrisome was that about the same volume of oil previously set aside for domestic consumption was being reportedly stolen, adding that this raises questions about the veracity of the oil theft saga.

He challenged the National Assembly to critically look at the current reports of oil theft in the Niger Delta as the figure being dished out is too constant to be believed.

Also reacting to the tenure extension proposal, CNPP warned that foisting the rejected seven-year single tenure on Nigerians through the back door would be a grave disservice to the nation.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, CNPP also asked Ekweremadu to explain to Nigerians why he feels the 2015 general election will end up crisis.