The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)
leader, Issa Aremu, has said that the controversy over why the President is
contesting or not is unnecessary in as much as he has the constitutional right
to seek re-election in 2019.
However, he said workers would
also exercise their voting rights based on his performances in office during
his first term.Aremu, who is a National Executive Council (NEC) member of the
NLC and Secretary-General of the Textiles Workers Union, said in a statement
yesterday that it was unnecessary to debate whether he will contest the
presidency again, adding that Nigerians are also free to exercise their
fundamental rights of voting for political office holders based on their
performances while in office.
He said: “The reported
announcement by President Muhammadu Buhari of his intention to seek re-election
in 2019 is largely a constitutional matter. For us in the Labour movement, 1999
Constitution of Nigeria allows for two-term tenure for the President if
elected, same for governors and legislators.
President Muhammadu Buhari
certainly has the right under the 1999 Constitution to seek re-election for
second term in office. Same constitution allows all eligible citizens to
exercise their rights to vote and be voted for.
“What is also clear is that Labour
will also exercise its constitutional rights to vote based on critical
assessment of all political office holders with respect to decent work, decent
pay, employment, cost of living, security and building of a prosperous, fair,
just and united Nigeria.”
In a related vein, Kano State
government has said that Buhari’s decision to run for second term in the 2019
elections is a welcomed development.A statement signed by the state’s
Commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba, noted that President Buhari’s
declaration is a step in the right direction.
Garba said the re-election of
Buhari come 2019 would ensure the consolidation of the achievements recorded in
the first term of his administration, especially in the areas of economic
growth, security, fight against corruption and transparency in government
business.
“While Nigeria has got out of
recession more stronger, higher level of transparency in government has ensured
foreign investments, the administration’s zero tolerance for corruption,
coupled with its holistic approach to fighting insurgency, has boosted the
country’s image in the international community.
“The strongest support base of
the President, the good people of Kano State and the administration of Governor
Abdullahi Umar Ganduje will ensure the success of Buhari at the polls to
consolidate the gains so far made.”
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