Obasanjo will be a dictator

[Richard Akindele]

Kano - Nigeria's vice president Atiku Abubakar stepped up his war of words with President Olusegun Obasanjo on Friday, warning that Obasanjo's rule could become a "dictatorship".

The former allies are split over a bid by Obasanjo's supporters to push through a constitutional amendment that would allow the president to run for a third term.

Atiku wants to contest next year's presidential election.

He has been rallying opponents of the bill in defiance of the leadership of his own ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP), which has backed the Obasanjo camp.

At a rally on Thursday, Atiku said: "We have seen how tinkering with the constitution to allow for tenure elongation in some African countries led to sit-tight dictatorships.

"This is exactly what is going to happen if you, the people, allow this constitutional amendment to pass through the national assembly.

Claims of ballot-rigging

"I call on all Nigerians to mount pressure on their representatives at the upper and lower chambers of the national assembly to ensure the third term amendment to the constitution is thrown out."

Obasanjo loyalists placed a bill to amend Nigeria's 1999 constitution before the country's senate this week.

If passed, the law would remove a ban on presidents standing for a third presidential term, clearing the way for Obasanjo to try to repeat his election victories of 1999 and 2003 - both of which were marred by claims of widespread ballot-rigging.

Some political analysts have argued that a changed constitution would be a "year zero" document, wiping Obasanjo's slate clean and allowing the 69-year-old former military dictator to stand for three more four year terms.

Nigeria's opposition, pro-democracy groups, many professional associations and PDP-rebels - such as Atiku - are fiercely opposed to the proposed constitutional change.
http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/New ... 95,00.html