Smart DNA, a prominent DNA testing center based in Lagos, Nigeria, has published a comprehensive data analysis of all relationship DNA tests conducted at its facility between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023.

The report provides insights into DNA testing trends across Nigeria, shedding light on the reasons people seek testing, demographics of those tested, and test outcomes.

Key findings from the report include:

1. Positive Results: Approximately 73.88% of tests confirmed that men were the biological fathers of the children they queried their paternity, while 26.12% yielded negative results.
2. Geographical Spread: Lagos accounted for the highest percentage of tests at 82.89%, followed by Oyo (3.29%), Ogun (3.07%), FCT (2.63%), and Rivers (2.41%). This concentration in Lagos may be due to Smart DNA’s office location, residents’ purchasing power, and high population density.
3. Reasons for Testing: The majority (89.10%) of tests were conducted for “Peace of Mind,” followed by “Immigration” (8.97%) and “Legal” (0.64%). This suggests that individuals primarily seek DNA testing for personal reasons.
4. Initiators of Contact: Men initiated contact for testing in 86.44% of cases, compared to 13.56% initiated by women. Men are more likely to have doubts about paternity or other relationships and take the initiative to seek testing.
5. Ethnic Groups: The Yoruba ethnic group had the highest percentage of tests (61.23%), followed by Igbo (19.07%), “Others” (12.08%), and Edo (6.78%). This reflects the ethnic distribution in Lagos and its surroundings.
6. Child’s Gender: More tests were conducted on male children (56.62%) compared to female children (43.38%), possibly indicating a cultural preference for confirming paternity of male offspring.
7. Age Range: Most tests were conducted on children aged 0-5 years (58.02%), followed by the 6-12 age group (25.95%). This suggests that paternity tests are primarily done on younger children.
8. Age of Test Initiators: Men opting for DNA tests were mostly between the ages of 31-40 years (40%) and 41-50 years (23%), likely indicating a financial capability to afford testing.

Smart DNA officials emphasized their commitment to providing accredited DNA testing services in line with international standards. The report aims to contribute to a better understanding of relationship DNA testing trends in Nigeria.

Senator Sa’idu Ahmed Alkali, Minister of Transportation, has revealed that Muhammadu Buhari University, Daura in Katsina State, will begin academic activities in October of this year.

On Friday, he revealed this while leading a delegation from his ministry on an inspection tour of the school’s permanent site in Daura.

The minister also stated that the school had already submitted its courses to the National Universities Commission (NUC) for approval and the number of students to be admitted.

I hereby commend the China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) for constructing this university as part of their corporate social responsibility, Alkali said. I’d like to challenge other businesses to follow in their footsteps by constructing a school, hospital, or something similar.

We are also appealing to the company to assist the university with a takeoff grant to enable it to begin full operations as planned, the minister said.

Professor Umar Adamu Katsayal, the university’s new Vice-Chancellor, said the university had been provided with modern learning facilities, including a hostel for male and female students.

Meanwhile, the minister has stated that the Kano-Katsina-Maradi rail line will be finished by 2025.

He also expressed his appreciation for the contractors’ efforts thus far.

He made the remarks on Friday in Daura, Katsina state, while leading an inspection tour of the ministry to the 387-kilometer rail project awarded by former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The minister said;

Actually I am impressed with what I have seen so far. We came all the way from Dawanau (in Kano) to where we are (Daura) so that we can assess the level of the execution of the work in compliance with the specification of the contractor.

From Kano to here, almost all the major part of the site clearance has been done and I am pleased with what I have seen.

Former President Buhari presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for the standard gauge rail line project in February 2021. However, work did not begin in earnest until last year.

The railway line runs 387 kilometres from Kano to Maradi in Southern Niger Republic, with a branch line connecting Kano to Dutse.

Similarly, a 93-kilometer branch line will connect Dutse, Jigawa State’s capital, to Kano.

Mota Engil, a Portuguese construction company, was awarded the project for $1.959 billion.

The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) has stated that without its approval, the University of Abuja, Modibbo Adamawa State University, Yola, and Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma in Edo State are running failed accreditation, expired, and illegal engineering programs.

It stated that the University of Abuja is running courses with expired accreditation, such as chemical engineering and civil engineering, which expired on March 26, 2020, and electronic engineering and mechanical engineering, which expired on April 20, 2022. Agriculture engineering failed accreditation at Modibbo Adamawa State University Yola, civil engineering, elect/elect engineering expired on October 11, 2020, and chemical and mechanical engineering expired on March 10, 2021.

Mechanical engineering and elect/elect engineering are available at Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma until November 12, 2020.

Engr Sadiq Zubair Abubakar, president and chairman of COREN, stated yesterday at a press conference in Abuja that the University of Calabar, Cross River State, is currently running engineering programs up to the 300 level, while the Technical University of Ibadan, Oyo State, is currently running engineering programs up to the 500 level, both without resource verification/pre-verification by COREN.

The COREN president stated that all universities had been officially written to request their programs’ accreditation because they are currently illegal and need to be corrected. Still, there had been no positive response from any of them.

The COREN president, represented by the council’s registrar, Engr Adisa Ademola Bello, stated that COREN, per Section 12 of the Federal Republic Government Gazette No:113 of 3rd March 2023 on regulations on accreditation of engineering programs in Nigeria, provides for the withdrawal of accreditation and non-recognition of graduates of such programs for registration as engineering practitioners.

He said:

Failure to rectify their non-accreditation status will result in blacklisting them as non-accredited institutions whose graduates of engineering programmes will not be recognised for registration as engineering practitioners and will lack the legal backing to practice engineering in Nigeria.

The Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul-Samad Rabiu, says the company is set to reduce the price of cement in Nigeria.

He disclosed this on Friday while speaking the State House correspondents after meeting with President Bola Tinubu.

Rabiu said to support the efforts of the government to crash the price of the product, the company would add two new plants at the end of the year or early next year.

According to him, the plants to be commissioned by Tinubu, would bring BUA Cement’s total capacity to 17 million metric tons.

This, he said will enable the company to reduce the price of cement to about 3500 naira per bag.

He said: “Let me thank His Excellency Mr. President for graciously receiving me today. I came to intimate His Excellency on the affairs of our cement business. We have two new lines of 3 million tonnes each that we will be commissioned by the end of the year.

“So I came to intimate His Excellency and also to explain to him the efforts we’re making in trying to support again the efforts of the government in bringing down the price of cement.

“With this 6 million tonnes that are commissioning by the end of the year. And by the way, His Excellency has agreed to come and commission the plants, sometimes in December or early January next year.

“So I explained to him and we want to support the efforts of the government in bringing down the price of cement. By the time these lines are commissioned, BUA Cement will to be producing about 17 million tonnes per annum. And with that, we intend to bring down the price of cement from its current level of N5000 or N5500 per bag to maybe N3000 to N3500 per bag.

“And we can only do that because we’re producing cement locally. 80% of the raw materials that we’re using to produce cement are in Nigeria. We want to support the government efforts in ensuring that the price of thess commodities are brought down.

“Incidentally, I also saw the Honorable Minister David Umahi, when I was with the with His Excellency, Mr. President, and we agreed to meet so what we’re going to do is by the time we commission these two lines is to announce to Nigerians that the price of cement is going to come down.”

President Bola Tinubu named Muhammad Sani Abdullahi Dattijo the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Deputy Governor.

Dattijo served as Commissioner of Budget and Planning under Kaduna State’s immediate past Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai.

The president also fired all deputies who worked for Godwin Emefiele, the former governor of CBN who is being held by the Department of State Services (DSS).

The bank had four deputy governors under Emefiele, including Folashodun Adebisi Shonubi, who became acting governor after his suspension on June 9, 2023; Aishah N. Ahmad, who was Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability Directorate; Edward L. Adamu, Deputy Governor, Corporate Services Directorate; and Kingsley Obiora, Deputy Governor, Economic Policy Directorate.

In a statement issued on Friday, Presidential Spokesman Chief Ajuri Ngelale announced the appointments of the new CBN deputy governors.

Ngelale stated that President Tinubu had approved the nomination of four new Deputy Governors of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for a five-year term in the first instance, subject to confirmation by the Nigerian Senate.

Other nominees include Mrs. Emem Nnana Usoro, Mr. Philip Ikeazor, and Dr. Bala M. Bello.

The appointments are subject to Senate confirmation.

Tinubu Nominates Yemi Cardoso As New CBN Governor, Management Team [Full List]
President Bola Tinubu has approved the nomination of Dr. Olayemi Michael Cardoso to serve as the new Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), for a term of five (5) years at the first instance, pending his confirmation by the Nigerian Senate.

WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that this was contained in a statement by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity

This directive is in conformity with Section 8 (1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007, which vests in the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the authority to appoint the Governor and Four (4) Deputy Governors for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), subject to confirmation by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Furthermore, President Bola Tinubu has approved the nomination of four new Deputy Governors of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), for a term of five (5) years at the first instance, pending their confirmation by the Nigerian Senate, as listed below:
(1) Mrs. Emem Nnana Usoro
(2) Mr. Muhammad Sani Abdullahi Dattijo
(3) Mr. Philip Ikeazor
(4) Dr. Bala M. Bello

The dust over the leadership of the Nigerian Senate may not have settled as THE WHISTLER has been authoritatively informed of a plot to cause the impeachment of Godswill Akpabio as Senate President when the National Assembly resumes from its two-month annual leave on September 26.

This newspaper was informed that the Senators behind the plot are currently meeting in Saudi Arabia to perfect the plan before resumption of plenary.

Leading the charge are Senators Abdulaziz Yari, the All Progressive Congress senator from Zamfara State and Aminu Tambuwal of the Peoples Democratic Party from Sokoto State.

Yari was the main challenger of Akpabio for the senate presidency while Tambuwal was one of his key backers.

Mohammed Onawo Ya’u Sumaila, another PDP senator from Nasarawa State, is also said to be among the leaders of the move to convince other senators to sign on to the impeachment plot.

The plotters, who are claiming to be fighting for the independence of the legislature, are citing alleged subservience of Akpabio to the Presidency as main reason why he must be pushed aside.

The senators are said to be capitalizing on President Bola Tinubu’s aggressive handling of the Niger coup, which raised temperatures in the northern parts of the country, as reason to have a legislature that is capable of checking him.

The senators are also using some of the policies of the Tinubu government perceived as anti-people( including removal of fuel subsidy) to whip up sentiments in favour of ousting the current leadership of the senate and replacing Akpabio with Yari.

Yari, a former governor of Zamfara, broke rank with the leadership of the APC when it announced Akpabio as its candidate for the senate presidency in early June, insisting he was the right person to head the senate.

Yari’s group, according to Senator Suleiman Samaila, who’s a member of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) representing Kano south, had done its own zoning of the senate positions.

He had said during an Arise Tv interview in June that, “We did a conventional zoning ourselves, we picked Abdulaziz Yari from the north-west and we are planning to pick deputy senate president from south-east, it shows you that we have done balancing.”

Yari himself had told a group from the South-south who paid him courtesy call in Abuja before the election that “only God installs a king” while taking a swipe at the leadership of his party who chose Akpabio over him.

But with the new plot being hatched in Saudi Arabia, Yari and his group are no longer living it to God.

A highly placed source privy to the scheme told THE WHISTLER on Friday night that Yari is wooing opposition senators to perfect his plan to take over the senate.

“They are currently in Saudi Arabia where they are perfecting plans to ensure Akpabio is removed,” the source said.

“They claim he’s too subservient to the president and he’s not allowing the senate to question the presidency and act as a check.”

While announcing the standing committees of the Senate before the break in August, Akpabio named Yari as chairman of the Committee on Water Resources while Tambuwal leads Housing Committee.

The Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Engineer Sule Abdulaziz, has disclosed that the two major transformers in Birnin-Kebbi gutted by fire will cost $4m.

Using the Central Bank of Nigeria exchange rate of N769 per dollar, the amount translates into about N3.1bn

Recall that Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara state get electricity supply from Birnin-Kebbi.

However, Abdulaziz said Kebbi and Sokoto were greatly affected, but based on the temporary arrangement being made by the company, it might take two weeks for engineers to fix the damaged power station and restore light to the two states.

Revealing the arrangement made, the TCN MD said Sokoto will be serviced from the power station at Talata Mafara while Kebbi will feed from the transformer assigned to Niger Republic.

Also, to replace two major transformers, MVA 90 and MVA 60 that were destroyed by the fire, he said the TCN would need $4m.

He also revealed that the cause of the fire is not known yet, but experts have been engaged to investigate the incident.

President Bola Tinubu on Friday appointed Dr Olayemi Cardoso as the new Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria effectively putting an end to the succession tussle at the apex bank.

Cardoso’s appointment is coming at a time when the apex bank is currently undergoing a house cleaning exercise following the removal of Godwin Emefiele as CBN Governor.

Here are what you must know about the new CBN Governor

A Banker and chartered Stockbroker

Olayemi Micheal Cardoso is a Nigerian banker, chartered stockbroker and public policy maker. He served as the former chairman of Citibank Nigeria and was the Commissioner for Lagos State Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget.

Dr Yemi Cardoso is a financial and development expert with over thirty years’ experience in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors.

Education

Cardoso studied managerial and administrative studies at the Aston University, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree. He has a Master’s degree from the Harvard Kennedy School in public administration

Career

Cardoso was the commissioner for economic planning and budget for Lagos state. He is the founding chairman and co-chair of Ehingbeti Summit, the Lagos state economic summit.
He is also a former executive lead at Harvard Kennedy School alumni association.

Cardoso was chairman of the board of Citibank Nigeria. He became a member of the Cities Alliance’s Africa Think Tank Group, a group created to solve urban development challenges. He has served as a board member of MRS Oil and was the chairman of the board of EFinA. Cardoso is a member of the advisory board of Lagos Business School and chairman of the board of African Venture Philanthropy Alliance.

Commercial vehicle operators have expressed worry over the lack of customers, high cost of fuel caused by the subsidy removal which had made it difficult to make profit on their businesses.

The removal of fuel subsidy was announced on May 29 by President Bola Tinubu in his inaugural speech.

The removal led to an increase in the cost of transportation and had made it difficult for many people to cope with the high increase.

Speaking with THE WHISTLER on Friday in Abuja, a bus driver Mr. Musbahu Siraja said that since the subsidy was removed, things have been difficult for him.

He explained that the rate at which he bought fuel before now is no longer the same as he has reduced the volume of petrol he buys in his car.

Siraja said, “I used to buy N14,000 fuel and it lasts me for over a week but that is no longer the case as I will need N30,000 now to buy fuel.

“Secondly, the volume number of passengers now have reduced compared to how it was when fuel subsidy had not been removed. This is seriously affecting what we make in this business.”

Suraja said he hopes that government will bring down the price of fuel so that Nigerians can be able to afford the product.

Another driver who gave his name as Mr. ThankGod said that the subsidy removal really affected his business.

He said, “Business has not been moving like before, customers are complaining of the high cost of transportation. I can’t even fill my car tank because there is no money. I only refill when customers pay me.”

For Mr Sunday David, he said even when the fuel was sold at N195 per litre, things were still difficult for commercial drivers.

He said, ‘’If you are working and cannot feed yourself, or your family, and you cannot get change from it, it is not work. Despite the increase in transportation cost, we don’t make profit like we used to.”

Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, has a rich and diverse political landscape. Since gaining independence from British colonial rule in 1960, Nigeria has experimented with various forms of governance, including parliamentary systems and presidential systems.

From the 1922 Clifford Constitution; the 1946 Arthur Richard Constitution; the 1951 McPherson Constitution; the Federal Constitution (otherwise known as the Lyttleton Constitution) of 1954 and the 1963 Republican Constitutions, Nigeria still yearns for nationhood. One of the most debated aspects of Nigerian governance however is the duration of political tenures, particularly for Governors and Presidents.

In this writeup, I advocate for a constitutional single-term or tenure of six years for the President and Governors, as well as their respective Deputies. I will delve into the rationale behind this proposal, the potential benefits it could bring to Nigeria; and also address common criticisms and concerns.

MEANING OF SINGLE-TERM

A single term is a length of time a person serves in a particular elected office. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) prescribes two-term of four years each for the President, the Governors and their Deputies. See Sections 137 (1)(b) 182(1)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999. The reasons are obvious and well-documented and have engaged (and continue to engage) the attention of the academic world, public affairs commentators and public office holders alike at all levels. These include those likely to be directly affected by any changes to the status quo, i.e., Presidents and Governors. I will, in this write-up, present a broader and I believe, more convincing reasons why Nigeria should change the present status quo.

DEMERITS OF A SINGLE TERM TENURE

Advocates of maintaining the present tenure system are as vociferous (if not more) than its opponents. Their arguments are worth considering, even if not compelling or convincing. Among them, are the fact that, in their view, a single term is a constraint to continuity and predictability as well as a minus to presidential accountability.

They also argue that, in virtually all the countries (at least in Africa) which practice single term limits for their elected Presidents, it has become a tool of manipulation by incumbents to elongate their tenure.

This has achieved nothing but the dubious distinction of the difference between six and half-a-dozen. In other words, a difference in nothing but name: a subterfuge. Accordingly, they argue, that what Nigeria needs is good governance not, what they characterize as a sterile debate about terms of office - no matter how brilliantly some of the suggested options or models may have performed in different climes.

In their view, our problem is not how long or short the tenure of our elected President might be, but rather, who we elect; how we elect them; and the structure of the relevant institutions. In other words, the caliber of our elected representatives (leaders), the credibility or legitimacy of the process of their selection or emergence and the quality of the institutions which are responsible for producing or filtering them, respectively, are what should count.

While the proposal for single-term tenure of six years for Presidents, Governors and their Deputies offers numerous potential benefits, it is not without the above criticisms and serious concerns by its antagonists. Here are some of the common objections often raised as demerits and disadvantages of a single term tenure:

1. Lack of Accountability: Critics argue that without the prospect of re-election, politicians may become less accountable to the people. To address this concern, strong accountability mechanisms, such as robust oversight institutions and independent auditing, would need to be in place, which they argue, are not there.
2. Unfulfilled Promises:Skeptics suggest that politicians could make grandiose promises during their single term, knowing that they will not be held accountable for delivering on those promises. However, public awareness and media scrutiny can help mitigate this issue.
3. The Risk of Lame Duck Leaders:Concerns exist that leaders in their final year of a single term may become "lame ducks," with diminished motivation and incentive to govern effectively. It is argued that the law of Diminishing Returns set. Strong leadership and public engagement can mitigate this risk.
4. Constitutional Amendments:Implementing single-term tenure would require significant constitutional changes, which could be challenging to achieve given the complexities of Nigerian politics and legal processes, especially the labyrinthine provisions of section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

THE RATIONALE AND MERITS OF A SINGLE-TERM OF SIX YEARS

There are may reasons why a single term of six years of office lasting six years is preferable. And this is my humble submission.

ABUSE OF INCUMBENCY

The notion of non-re-electable Executive (whether President or State Governors) is often expressed as the strongest incentive for self-perpetuation, irrespective of actual performance during the first tenure of such an incumbent President or Governor. This is not peculiar to Nigeria or even contemporary times, because in both France and the United States, the misuse has also been part of their political culture. In the former, French philosopher Alex de Tocqueville is reported to have lamented that “The desire to be re-elected is the chief aim of the President; that the whole policy of his administration, and even his most indifferent measures, to this object.”

In the US, according to Jasper Nathaniel (in an article titled ‘Make the U.S. Presidency a single 6- year term’, referenced by legendary Aare Afe Babalola, SAN), the distraction occasioned by the campaign for former President Obama’s re-election in 2012 - less than 2 years into his first term - massively distracted him from focusing on “the country’s business”. Recalling that the proposal for a single Presidential term limit of 6 years was first mooted and rejected almost two and half centuries ago (in 1787), the icon argues that, as “Head of State, Chief Diplomat and Legislator as well as Commander-In-Chief, the (U.S.) President’s plate is always over-filled. Factor in frequent unanticipated problems and demands of the job can become in sufferably large”; adding that, (as a result), the actual issues that the President was elected to deal with miss out on a tremendous amount of time, energy and resources. These sentiments are shared by University of Texas Political Scholar, Bruce Buchanan, who opined that “To run for re-election in the midst (of the competing challenge for the President’s time and attention) can best be described as an unreasonable addition … and the re-election period ultimately becomes a distracting period for the President”. Kevin Costner was dead on track when he opined that “people who go into politics want to do the right thing. And then they hit a big wall of re-election and the pettiness of politics. In the end, politics gets in the way of the business of the people”. How sad!

Back home in Nigeria, no less a person than a distinguished President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, (the “my ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian exponent”), added his weighty voice to the debate when he noted - while still in office - that “Every four years you conduct elections, you create so much tension in the political environment. It creates series of confusion in the political environment”. To avoid being misunderstood, he quickly added that his proposal of a single presidential term of 6 years, alone – ipso facto, without more - “will not bring one hundred percent stability. There is no political system that is one hundred percent stable”.

The foregoing challenge dovetails into the serious issue of incumbency factor in Nigeria’s peculiar milieu. I believe that a single six-year presidential term has the advantage of mitigating (if not outrightly eliminating) what many regard as the damaging effect of incumbency factor in our elections. This is because, it would, in the words of Naiwu Osahon, improve access of all our ethnic groups and religions to the highest elected executive positions and foster a greater sense of belonging. This would also potentially cater for the argument in favor of zoning - another perennial big and menacing elephant in the room in our political culture.

A corollary to the foregoing is that a single term has the potential of creating a level playing field. This is because it will eliminate the unfair advantage enjoyed by an incumbent in terms of access to the levers of power - particularly economic power (which is more often than not, derived from the public till or State resources). But that is not all. It includes control (either directly or otherwise), of the notionally independent electoral umpire, INEC. Experience has shown that, under an overbearing President who seeks re-election, INEC is only independent in name. the last presidential election of 25^th February, 2023, shows that INEC is anything but independent from the ruling party.

AVOIDANCE OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE

In addition to the benefits of a single 6-year tenure identified above, I firmly believe that such a policy will ensure that aspirants for both the Presidency and State Governorship will know, well before hand, that they have only one chance to get it right. It is either a hit-or-miss. It will, therefore, concentrate their minds and enable them to focus on achieving the goals for which they were elected: on fulfilling their election promises. They will thus have no excuses, and no one to blame if they fail. They will not be distracted by concerns about an imminent campaign for re-election. This means that they will not consider touching the public fund (or padding budgets or contracts) to defray the ever-rising and humongous cost of electioneering in Nigeria. There will be less political tension and bickering. Lives and broken limbs will be spared which might otherwise be lost to political violence. And we will all be the better for it.

In 2014, former president, Goodluck Jonathan, proposed the six-year single term for President and Governors. He argued that it would ensure good governance, stem political acrimony during change of government and cut down drastically on costs of electioneering campaigns. Professor Charles Soludo was in 2018, also in support of a 6-year single term for Nigerian Presidents. These proposals, have at some point, been laid before the National Assembly in the form of a bill. However, the said bill was always rejected by the lawmakers. They did so in 2019. A former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, who supported the bill expressed displeasure over its rejection by the lawmakers. According to Atiku, “Second term obsession rewards incompetence by allowing failed incumbents to be re-elected regardless of their performance record. It also denies political parties the opportunity to replace failed incumbents with better candidates within the parties in the name of right of first refusal”.

Many have also argued – credibly - that a single term of six (6) years is sufficient to make an impact for a serious-minded, focused, patriotic and people-oriented leader - either a President or Governor.

ENHANCEMENT OF POLITICAL STABILITY

One of the primary arguments in favour of a single-term tenure is the potential for enhanced political stability. In the current “win-at-all-cost” system, elected officials often spend a significant portion of their tenure and resources preparing for re-election campaigns, sometimes even while just commencing their initial mandate. This constant focus on re-election often distracts from the pressing issues of governance facing the nation. Nigeria, as I have said again and again, using my OZEKPEDIA Neologism, merely practise “ELECTIONOCRACY” and not Democracy. “ELECTIONOCRACY ” is a system of government where elections are held as a ritual, at intervals of 4 years in Nigeria, with the emergent elected or selected leaders, rather than giving the electors dividends of democracy, merely stabilise themselves in power, commence primitive acquisition of wealth and forget the electorate that elected the leaders in the first place. They then begin another round of campaigns, after pretending to work for two years. They are already looking forward to the next election when the electorate has not benefited from any democratic dividends from their first term. To avoid this fixation with elections round the year, a single-term tenure would eliminate the need for elected officials to campaign round the clock for re-election. This will allow them focus their entire term of office on governing effectively. This would also most likely lead to more coherent and consistent policies, as politicians would not need to make short-term decisions to appease voters and donors, only for immediate successors to cancel such projects and start their own.

FOSTERING ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY

Accountability and transparency are the cornerstone of good governance. However, in Nigeria's current warped political system, accountability and transparency are more often than not compromised on the altar of politicians prioritizing personal and party interests over those of members of the public just to secure re-election. Single-term tenure, it is argued, would encourage greater accountability and transparency during the one-term in office. This is because the office holder knows fully well that he either sinks or swims with his only available single term.

Without the looming spectre of re-election, elected officials would have more freedom to make critical and sometimes, painful decisions that are genuinely in the best interest of their constituents. Additionally, the public would have a clearer basis to evaluate their performance since they may never have the opportunity to run for re-election again and make the usual banal and empty political promises.

SAVING RESOURCES

Nigeria's electoral processes are unduly capital and resource-intensive. Conducting elections, especially on a national scale, requires huge allocation of funds and manpower. With elections happening less frequently due to single-term tenures, the country could save substantial resources and plough them towards more meaningful projects. These saved resources could be redirected towards critical areas such as healthcare, education, capacity building, youth and infrastructural development, and poverty alleviation, ultimately benefiting the citizens and improving their quality of life.

AVOIDANCE OF POLITICAL RANCOR

The divisive experience of countries like Kenya, in 2003 and other African countries such as Zimbabwe, Cameroon, the Gambia, Cote d’Ivoire and, more recently - Gabon, Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali have shown that attempts by unpopular Presidents to perpetuate themselves in power, some by way of birthright, primogeniture by way of hereditary succession, in total defiance of either the law (through bogus constitutional amendments), or subversion of the popular will of the people, as expressed through the ballot, have often resulted in unsalutary, and at times, violent outcomes: civil unrests; insurrections; and even military coups. A single fixed-term (provided it is scrupulously adhered to, of course) is a viable option in forestalling such national risks of needless uprisings and internal schisms.

Nigeria has, even in recent past, unfortunately, experienced its fair share of electoral violence and manipulation of the peoples’ will. One major reason behind this recurrent violence is anchored on the intense and unhealthy competition for political power, especially during the four yearly ritual re-election campaigns. In a single-term tenure system, the motivation for such “I-must-grab-power” violence diminishes significantly since such politicians will not need to vie for re-election.

Thus, by reducing electoral violence and turbulent electioneering, single-term tenure could foster a more predictable and stable political environment. A conducive political environment will in turn encourage a peaceful polity, foreign investment, economic growth and social development.

ENCOURAGEMENT OF MERITOCRACY

Under the current political system of bootlicking, ego massaging, sycophancy and toadiness, political leaders often prioritize loyalty to their party and financial backers when considering appointments to key positions. This often results in prebendalism, cronyism, nepotism, favouritism, leading to the appointment of unqualified individuals. Appointment of such second, third and fourth electoral elements usually result to ineffective governance. In a single-term tenure system, politicians may be more inclined to prioritize merit and competence over loyalty, since there would be no second bite at re-election. This shift towards competence, capacity and meritocracy ultimately leads to better and more productive governance, as leaders would more likely appoint individuals with the requisite skills and expertise to manage various sectors of the government effectively; even where such persons are not members of their political party.

MITIGATION OF CORRUPTION

Corruption has been a bane and persistent challenge in Nigeria's political landscape. The undue pressure to secure funding for re-election campaigns sometimes pushes politicians to engage in corrupt practices. Many during their tenure sell their properties, or take huge bank loans to be repaid. By eliminating the need for re-election campaigns, a single term tenure system could drastically reduce the incentives and fallow environment for corruption.

A single, non-renewable term also ensures that, politicians may be less prone and less inclined to embezzle public funds as they would not have any opportunity to benefit from corrupt activities beyond their one term in office.

SINGLE TERM FACILITATES LONG-TERM PLANNING

Effective governance usually requires long-term planning and implementation of policies and projects that transcend the four years short-term political cycle. In our current elections-laden system, elected officials often hesitate to embark on long-term initiatives that may not yield immediate political benefits. They therefore take up white elephant projects that are long on razzmatazz, but short on real value to the people.

With a single-term tenure, politicians are encouraged to focus on long-term projects and policies that would benefit the people, without the fear of losing votes in the next imminent election. This ensures crucial infrastructure projects, educational reforms, and sustainable development initiatives that can drive lasting progress.

STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY

A single-term tenure system also has the capacity to strengthen Nigeria's democracy through the promotion of a more level playing field for political aspirants. Under the current political system, incumbents often enjoy a significant advantage in re-election campaigns, including unhindered access to state resources and the use of powerful government machinery. This often stifles healthy competition and also hinders the emergence of fresh, innovative and progressive leaders.

A single-term tenure would reduce the undue advantages of incumbency, thus encouraging a more vibrant and competitive political landscape where aspiring leaders are judged on their merits and ideas, rather than their access to state resources.

MY CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

While it is conceded that no system is fool-proof or fail-safe (no one size ever fits-all), a lot can, however, be said for my proposal of a 6-year single term, as opposed to the existing status quo. This is because of our peculiar characteristics as a people and a nation - the notorious ‘Nigerian factor’. To start with, the Presidential system which we practise breeds a “winner-takes-all” culture, which, in turn, fosters the “do-or-die” politics which has been our experience since independence.

Added to this, is our prebendalism and system of political patronage or cronyism in an environment of pervasive poverty where power is seen as a means of oppressing one’s enemies - real or imagined - not just political opponents. It is also a means of amassing stupendous, albeit ill-gotten wealth, because it is regarded not merely as a meal ticket, but as a means of securing one’s future and that of generations yet unborn.

This combination has been the deadly cocktail which has fueled the sit-tight syndrome behind the obsession with self-perpetuation among the power elite in Nigeria and the African continent. Lest we forget, it is not a peculiarly civilian contagion, as the recent rash of coups - particularly, in the West African sub-region, has demonstrated.

It follows that, beyond legal diktats which impose Presidential terms for any number of years, (which, as indicated, I fully support and endorse) what is called for is a root-and-branch reform which involves changing our attitudes, disposition, orientation and values. We must embrace and practise a new and different democratic ethos of tolerance, plurality, inclusiveness and respect for the rule of law; particularly, the sanctity and supremacy of the Constitution.

We must do away with our bad old ways which emphasize the self, the family, the ethnic group and personal creed or religion; and replace them with their polar opposites: the larger, broader interest of the nation-state, with all its diverse and divergent component units. We must subordinate primordial sentiments to the greatest good of the greatest number.

We must respect and strengthen our political and legal institutions by ensuring that they are devoid of partisan political influence - especially in their constitution, composition and recruitment process. They must be perceived by all to be fair and impartial arbiters of electoral and other contests. In the language of the law, justice must not only be done at all times, but it must manifestly be seen to have been done. Again, as a famous English Jurist (Lord Denning) once put it, justice is destroyed when reasonable men and women go away thinking “the judge is biased”. This applies with equal vigour to the electoral umpire: It loses credibility when the electorates (and non-electorates alike) believe it has been compromised to do the bidding of one or more of the political class or contestants in the election which it superintends. To the extent that this sentiment breeds hopelessness, it simply plays into the hands of ambitious military officers, who are ever-ready to seize such opportunities to make a grab for power - not necessarily, it must be said - for altruistic or populist reasons, but simply to feather their own nests. And so it continues, seemingly a vicious cycle, to which there is no end. Is Nigeria doomed to such a fate? I do not know. Or, do you? Hence the seriousness with which the leadership challenge deserves to be taken.

So, yes to a single term of 6 (six) years at the centre and in the States. The benefits are only too self-evident. It ticks most, if not all, the boxes and commends itself as the lesser of two evils. However, beyond prescribing it as diktat, a lot of work needs to be done to ensure that it abides and endures in the long term - preferably for all time. It is working in Mexico (where it is called, intriguingly, ‘Sexino’). But, that is Latin American. Globally, however, it is the exception, rather than the rule. Across the world, the practice continues to be dual-term and even - as in Algeria, Cambodia, Singapore and Sri Lanka - unlimited-term presidencies.

As we say, rather self-righteously in Nigeria, that is not “our portion”. This is a prayer to which everyone cannot but intone or chorus: “Amen!”. But heaven only helps those who help themselves. So, we must pull ourselves by our bootstraps. It is up to us to entrench a culture of good governance which ensures that the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles enshrined in our Constitution (under Chapter II) come alive and become our lived experience - every single one of us - including generations yet unborn.

I believe that this is the best way of fostering the requisite stability and eliminate the tensions which are the catalysts for the so-called ‘sterile’ debates over term limits. This is the only means of achieving and sustaining a credible leadership recruitment process which works for all. That way, Nigeria might yet join Mexico as the first African country to successfully adopt and apply the six-year single Presidential tenure. Whatever we might call it becomes another matter entirely.

Nigeria stands at a crucial crossroads in its democratic journey. To enhance political stability, reduce electoral violence, foster accountability, save resources, encourage meritocracy, mitigate corruption, facilitate long-term planning, and strengthen democracy, a constitutional single-term tenure of six years for the Presidents, Governors and their Deputies deserves serious consideration. I so move.

While there are valid concerns and criticisms to address as highlighted in the writeup, the potential benefits of such a reform could be transformative for Nigeria's governance. It is essential for the nation's leaders, politicians, scholars, and the Civil Society to engage in thoughtful and inclusive dialogue to further robustly explore this my proposal and chart a new course toward a more stable, transparent, accountable, and prosperous Nigeria that we all will be proud of. This is my humble submission.