Port Harcourt — A breakthrough towards a third term for President Olusegun Obasanjo came yesterday, as the National Assembly entrench Joint Committee on the review of the 1999 constitution sitting in Port Harcourt, adopted a third term of four years each.

Deputy Senate President and Chairman at the committee, Senator Ibrahim Mantu disclosed this while briefing journalists at the Port Harcourt International Airport Hotel, Omagwa, in Ikwerre local government area, at Rivers State.

Senator Mantu explained that the committee followed due process in arriving at the decision saying the constitution was followed clause by clause, even as he noted that adoption of the third term bid for president was based on the committee's collation of the predominant views as expressed by Nigerians during the just concluded public hearing on the review of the said constitution.

Mantu who noted that they have voted for the third term of four years each for equity and fairness to prevail in the polity, pointed out that they also agreed that political power should rotate within the six geo-political zones in the country for justice and equity so that every segment of the country must be given equal opportunity.

Reacting to the walk out by some members of the committee, the Deputy Senator president stated that those concerned were free to do so especially as it was a democracy but stressed that the deliberations had to continue because those present represented about 90 per cent.

However, a member of the committee in the House of Representative who did not want his name in print expressed the the Deputy Senate president stated that those concerned were free to do so especially as it was a democracy but stressed that the deliberations had to continue because those present represented about 90 per cent.

However, a member of the committee in the House of Representative who did not want his name in print expressed displeasure that the committee had resorted to voice votes to decide such a critical issue and hinted with delight that Senator Uche Chukwuemereji did not hesitate to oppose to third term move.

The source stated that the term may have scaled through but that they are bent on seeing that the issue of financial immunity and criminal clause does not see the light of the day even as he frowned that most of the Northern Senators endorsement voted in favour of the third term as against the some of the committee members from the South East and South West opposed it.

Similarly, Chief Mao Ohuabunwa who represents Arochukwu constituency, Abia State in the lower House who also spoke corraborated the views of Senators Mantu on the third term saying the committee has adopted a bias on the public opinion that dominated the public hearing and noted that further deliberations are expected when the matter would be presented on the floor of the National Assembly.

Ohuabunwa however, stated that the committee was sympathetic to the South-South zone and demanded that one more state be created from the South East zone to measure up with other zones, and pointed out that local governments should not be used as indices for revenue allocation and state creation and called for a more scientific approach to such parameters collecting the views of those who walk out on the committee, Senator Umaru Dahiru from Sokoto State frowned that some of them were not given the opportunity to speak even as he kicked against the third term.

Also speaking, former speaker Lagos State House of Assembly, Senator Mamora Adeleke called for sincerity in handling the third term issue but noted that everything at the deliberation was done by simple majority noting that when the recommendations are presented to the National Assembly, two third majority would prevail to reflect the view of Nigerians.

He queried the delay of the disadvantaged zone from enjoying the presidency for equity, justice and fairplay and stressed that the need for rotational presidency should be adopted going by the political evolution of the country.

The committee which sat for hours behind closed doors adopted tight security.

Reacting, Chairman Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih said "I have not been briefed on the issue"

Anenih who spoke with Daily Champion on telephone from his home town, Uromi, Edo State, promised to speak on the commiottee's recommendations today.

Former Kaduna State governor, Alhaji Balarabe Musa and constitutional lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) yesterday described the endorsement of three terms of four years by the Ibrahim Mantu-led National Assembly Joint Committee on the Review of 1999 constitution as a prescription for political doom of President Olusegun Obasanjo and state governors.

Also, Pan Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, yesterday, in Akure Ondo State warned that the alleged third of the president and governors was time-bomb capable of tearing the country apart.

Reacting to the adoption of the contentious third term of four years in its report by the Mantu committee, both Fawehinmi and Musa in separate interview with Daily Champion predicted that the recommendation will not only be rejected by Nigerians but will not sail through the National Assembly.

Arguing that the recommendation was a pathway to chaos and calamity, Fawehinmi contended that if the recommendation is included in the constitution, it will lead to the derailment of the nation's democracy.

According to him, "it is the beginning of derailment of our democratic process," emphasising that it is a prescription for political doom for Mr President and his party."

Expressing similar feeling, Musa noted with confidence that "Nigerians are not going to allow this to happen." He maintained that "it portends danger, it is a time bomb which may consume everybody including those pursuing it."

Meanwhile, Afenifere has warned that the alleged third term plot is a dangerous game that should be avoided by every Nigerian.

Speaking in Akure , Ondo State capital on the occasion of the tour of the leadership of the group to the state, the Acting Leader , Chief Rueben Fasoranti, said the group believed in the four year arrangement and the maximum of two terms for elective office holder.

Chief Fasoranti expressed delight that the position of the group was the same as that of other lovers of democracy like the American Government, the human rights groups, students organizations as well as other political parties.

He said Afenifere was of the opinion that if there is going to be any amendment to the constitution, the current occupiers of political offices must not benefit.

Chief Fasoranti said the Alliance for Democracy (AD), has not taken a decision on which party to relate with as being speculated, adding that though discussions were going on the next line of action.

He gave the assurance that supporters and members of the party would not be left in the dark about the decision of the party when the time comes.

The Afenifere leader said going by the principle of the group, it is impossible to divulge it entirely from that of AD because of ideology.

On the crisis rocking the leadership of the party in Ondo State, he alleged that the former chairman of the party , Comrade Sola Iji has said once that he did not believe in Afenifere, so he has been left alone.

He expressed optimism that the leadership of the group and the party would pursue to a logical conclusion the group's ideology.

Chief Fasoranti, who said the group had earlier visited Oyo, Osun and Lagos states, was accompanied on the tour by the factional National Chairman of the AD, Senator Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Alhaji Ganiyu Daodu, the former Governor of Ondo State, Chief Adebayo Adefarati and the former Secretary to Ondo State Government, Chief Wunmi Adegbonmire.

The leader declared that Mr Yinka Odumakin is not the Publicity Secretary of the group staing that Hon. Babatunde Oduyoye who is the AD whip in the House of Representatives, is the Group's publicity secretary.