“It’s Ludicrous” – Senate President, Lawan, Denies Pushing Buhari 3rd Term Agenda

• Lawan will never be a party to such unfortunate and insidious act, and that such is bound to fail if attempted.

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan,  has described as ‘ignoble mischief’ claims that he’s advocating an unconstitutional third term for president Muhammadu Buhari.

Lawan was, in a tweet authored by one mayor on twitter, accused of contemplating tinkering with the constitution to amend it in order to pave way for a Buhari presidency that’s not constrained by time and limit.

Mayor, in a tweet quoted the number two man as saying he “won’t mind a constitutional amendment to allow unlimited term of office for President if President Buhari wishes to remain in office beyond 2023.”

But reacting to the allegation, the Senate President said he would not in anyway partake in anything that would undermine or desecrate the Nigerian constitution, especially as it regards term limit for presidents.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Ola Awoniyi, Lawan denied ever making such remark.

He noted that denouncing the tweet became necessary in light of the attention it has attracted and public engagement it has generated on social media.

The statement reads: “Our initial reaction was to ignore the ignoble mischief especially since it is not new, having been posted two years ago on 27 March 2019.

“But because the tweet has been trending again on social media, it becomes necessary to issue a formal rebutal of its purport.

“We, therefore, say categorically that the Senate President has never made any such statement, before or after 2019.

“The old tweet which was entirely the handiwork of mischief makers is now being circulated again on social media by purveyors of fake news.

“The 1999 Constitution has a firm position on the tenure of the President that reflects the popular stand of Nigerians.

“Section 137(1)b states as follow: A person shall not be qualified for election to the office of President if (b) he has been elected to such Office at any two previous elections”

According to the statement, Lawan will never be a party to such unfortunate and insidious act, and that such is bound to fail if attempted.

“The Senate President has never found anything wrong in that provision of the Constitution and has always stood firmly by it.

Lawan recounted how, as a member of the national assembly, he stood firm and rebuffed an attempt to amend the constitution in 2006 to extend the tenure of the then president, Olusegun Obasanjo, noting that the legislature acted in the best interest of the country and “in obedience to the overwhelmingly popular desire of Nigerians”

“It is, therefore, ludicrous to imagine that Lawan would ever be in the vanguard of any such misadventure that is again certain to fail if ever pursued again.

“The Senate President stands by the well-considered and roundly appreciated provision of the Constitution on the issue and will never subscribe to any move to amend it.

“We, therefore, enjoin members of the public to ignore the old fabricated statement mischievously attributed to the Senate President and now being circulated by mischief makers.”

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:

COVID-19: UK, U. S. Blocking Nigeria From Accessing Vaccine – Senate President

Senate President Lawan Receives First AstraZeneca Vaccine at National Assembly