Your Call Is Unnecessary, Needless And Distraction ” – Ayanga, Nigerians Reject Proposed Six-Year Single Term For Presidents, Governors On Eagle FM’S Frontline
“Your Call Is Unnecessary, Needless And Distraction ” – Ayanga, Nigerians Reject Proposed Six-Year Single Term For Presidents, Governors On Eagle FM’S Frontline
A public affairs analyst, Bayo Ayanga, and several callers on Eagle 102.5 FM’s Frontline programme have rejected a proposal by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele seeking a constitutional amendment that would introduce a single six-year tenure for presidents and governors.
Recall that Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele on Monday announced plans to sponsor a constitutional amendment bill seeking to introduce a single six-year tenure for Nigeria’s president and state governors.
Bamidele disclosed his legislative agenda during an interview with journalists in Abuja, stating that this would be one of the first sets of bills he intends to move when lawmakers reconvene for the 11th National Assembly following the 2027 general elections.
The proposal, which has generated widespread public discussion, is intended to reduce political distractions associated with re-election campaigns and allow elected officials to focus more on governance.
The bill aims to replace the current system of two four-year terms with a single, non-renewable six-year term
Bamidele argued that under the current model, elected leaders waste nearly a year and a half of their first term strategizing and struggling for re-election, which severely degrades active governance.
He stated, “If you know you are there for six years, only one tenure, you put in your best from day one. You know this is the only chance that you have”.
This proposal is part of a larger political reform package, which includes pushing the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to publicly disclose the salaries and allowances of lawmakers and other public officers.
Reacting to the proposal during the programme, hosted in Ilese Ijebu, Ogun State, Ayanga said the idea was not entirely new, recalling that former President Goodluck Jonathan had previously advocated a similar arrangement involving a single five-year tenure.
According to the Chairman of Ijebu North East Forum, Ayanga, Jonathan had argued at the time that the pursuit of second-term ambitions often created unnecessary political tension and diverted attention from governance.
“What he said is not new. We remember very well in 2013, I suppose, 2012 or 2013, the then President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan came up with this idea, of a five-year single tenure in office. I remember one of the statements he made, that the propensity, to want to be gearing for the second term creates a lot of chaos in the politics. That, if people can, just know that they are just five years single term, once they serve, they leave. But that this, second term syndrome creates a lot of upheaval in the politics,” Ayanga said.
However, callers who participated in the programme overwhelmingly opposed the proposal, arguing that Nigeria’s governance challenges have little to do with the length of tenure and more to do with accountability, leadership quality and implementation of policies.
Calling from Ago-Iwoye, AbdulWasiu described the proposal as an unnecessary distraction from pressing national concerns such as insecurity and governance. He argued that four years remains sufficient for any serious leader to make meaningful impacts, citing the achievements of several former governors who recorded notable accomplishments within a single term.
AbdulWasiu pointed to former governors including Chief Olabisi Onabanjo, Lateef Jakande, Chief Bola Ige and Ambrose Alli as examples of leaders who left lasting legacies within limited periods in office.
He said, “For me, it’s just to divert the attention of Nigeria. Now we are yearning for good Governance, and these, our lawmakers, are saying they want to be whatever. They do not divert our attention. 4 years is good enough for anybody to deliver good Governors to his people.”
The caller added that lawmakers should instead prioritise addressing insecurity and other pressing challenges affecting Nigerians.
Another caller, Prince Suleiman Hassan, also dismissed the proposal, describing it as an attempt to shift public attention away from issues that directly affect citizens.
Rather than constitutional amendments on tenure length, Hassan called for legislative interventions that would improve living conditions, strengthen social welfare programmes and provide support for elderly citizens.
He said, “It is just a distraction. It’s a big statement. Making us forget what we are really expecting them to say.”
Hassan further questioned why lawmakers appeared more concerned with political reforms than measures aimed at guaranteeing better welfare for ordinary Nigerians.
Also contributing to the discussion, Oscar from Ijebu-Ode argued that Nigeria’s democratic shortcomings stem largely from the disconnect between leaders and the people they govern.
According to him, many government policies have failed to achieve their intended objectives because political leaders do not personally experience the consequences of those policies.
Oscar maintained that economic reforms would receive greater attention and urgency if public officials were directly affected by the hardships experienced by ordinary citizens.
“We have been talking about democracy. Why we are not enjoying it is that you can see that the things that the politicians are the ones that have checked the evidence of democracy. The gap between the ruler and the led are wide,” he said.
He further stated, “Whether you give them ten years or one single tenure, what they are going to do is just to make that any office in this country should be a hands-able for. So, it doesn’t matter who you are. Whether you are Yoruba or Hausa or any tribe.”
Oscar stressed that accountability remains the key ingredient missing in Nigeria’s governance system, insisting that no tenure arrangement would solve the country’s challenges unless leaders are held responsible for their actions while in office.
The reactions reflect growing public skepticism over constitutional amendments relating to tenure length, with many citizens insisting that governance outcomes, transparency and accountability should take precedence over discussions about political office duration.
While the Senate Leader acknowledged that his views represent his personal conviction and may face opposition, he maintained that parliament must allow laws to evolve.
The concept of a single six-year term is not entirely new; variations have previously been backed by prominent figures like Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, Anambra Governor Chukwuma Soludo, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. However, similar legislative attempts failed during the second reading stages in 2019 and 2024.
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