Lagos — The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and vice chairman, Joint Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, Hon. Austin Opara, has said contrary to insinuations the committee would not make any provision for a third term in the reviewed constitution.

Opara, who spoke in Abakaliki at a reception ceremony organised by the Ebunwana community in honour of the chairman, House Committee on Co-operation and Integration in Africa, Hon. Irem Ibom said "there is no provision for a third term. It is unnecessary and we cannot make such provisions in our constitution".

While describing the idea of a third term as "very unreasonable and absolutely uncalled for", he berated Nigerians for their penchant for orchestrating rumours and making an issue out of a non-issue.

"As a people, we must stop selling ridiculous ideas to people. A third term is alien to us by all ramifications. It is unconstitutional and Nigeria is too big for a thing like that. I strongly doubt that Mr. President is nursing such an ambition", Opara maintained.

He pointed out that "the way we are orchestrating this matter is surprising. This rumour has suddenly become an issue when it should not be. There is no provision for a third term".

On fears that the review committee may be influenced by the presidency to allow a third term, Opara remarked that "there is nothing like manipulation here. I want to categorically state that since the committee started its work, Mr. President has neither contacted, spoken to nor made overtures, whether overtly or covertly to us. So there is no interference".

He hinted that the committee is likely to complete its work within the year adding that "we want to submit our report by either before mid year or towards the middle of this year to the two chambers of the National Assembly for deliberation".

There have never been allegations of a third term provision in the constitution.

But since the previous session of the National Assembly initiated moves to review the constitution, there has been campaign for a single term of five-year term for president and governor instead of the present two term of four years.

When the present National Assembly equally commenced efforts to review the constitution, there were speculations that President Olusegun Obasanjo may be scheming to extend his tenure and run for another term by manipulating the National Assembly to adopt the single five-year term. The adoption of a single five-year term, it is feared will give the president and governors another opportunity to stay on in office post - 2007.

While Presidency and officials of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have denied this, the speculation has refused to abate.

Opara asured that the impasse over this year's budget will soon be resolved as, according to him, a committee set up by the House has recommended that a substantive bill should be initiated to include the new provisions which would in turn be communicated to the senate.

He maintained that if the two chambers failed to reach a compromise, a harmonization committee would be set-up to resolve the differences and come up with a common position that would be sent to the President for assent.

According to him, "we need to assure Nigerians that there is no cause for alarm, we do not foresee any kind of crisis because our strategy has always been that of dialogue and we believe that this same approach would yield positive results, there should be no room for despair".

On the controversy surrounding the creation of new councils by some state governors, Opara stated that some of the councils were created for either political reasons or to actually satisfy the yearnings and aspirations of the people.

He pointed out that "the constitution is very clear on how councils should be created. These provisions must be strictly followed. I know some states have adhered to these provisions in carrying out this exercise, which include the conduct of referendum and all that. But returns must be forwarded to the National Assembly, which requires the amendment of section 9 of the constitution".

Opara stated that for any council to be statutorily recognised, it must be listed in the constitution.

"Undertaking the exercise at the state level alone is not enough. Until the National Assembly plays its own role, those councils would remain unrecognised," he said.

On the believe that some of the new councils could eventually be recognised, Opara expressed the hope that the councils may be recognised. He added however that the possibility of their recognition depends on the extent of work done with the sub-committees vested with the task of looking at that aspect of the constitution.

He said until the new councils are recognised and listed in the constitution, the present status of the newly created councils should be development centres. "They should be used to achieve the grassroots development that they were created for," he said.