Resign Before 2007, Nas Tells Obasanjo, Govs
...Tasks FG on council funds
From Jare Ilelaboye in Kastina
Former Minister of Special Duties under the Late Gen. Sani Abacha administration, Alhaji Wada Nas has advocated the resignation of President Olusegun Obasanjo and all the 36 state governors including their deputies, six months to the 2007 general election.
He said the vacation of offices by these group of elected office holders prior to the general election will ensure free and fair Nas, who is the National Chairman of the Peoples Salvation Party (PSP) said Obasanjo is dictatorial and warned that there would be no free and fair election because according to him, the 2003 general election was conducted and won by the PDP through the use of the army, police and security agents nationwide.
Nas pointed out that those holding political offices should step aside six months to the 2007 general election to provide a level playing field for all political actors in future elections adding that the Chief Justice of the country should act as president while the state Chief Judges should act as governors in various states in the country pending the time the election results are announced by the the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC).
He condemned the present crop of the National Assembly members as mere tools being used by the Obasanjo regime to achieve his objectives in the country adding that ''we do not have democracy but dictatorship with the assistance of the National Assembly.''
Nas also suggested that the constitution should be amended to make it mandatory for any political office seekers to vacate that office for four years after which he could then re-contest election in his or her constituency.
Meanwhile, the former minister has criticised the Federal Government for withholding the allocation to states that created new Local councils in the country.
Nas said the federal government's action was undemocratic and should be condemned by well-meaning Nigerians. He said federal government has no constitutional power to interfere with the way local councils or states spend their allocations saying such a decision showed lack of respect for other tiers of government.
Nas blamed the the National Assembly for its inability to mount pressure on Obasanjo to release withheld funds arguing that they are all partners in the undemocratic project.
Nas called on obasanjo to, as a matter of urgency release the allocaion accruing to the local government councils in the intrest of justice and fair play.
On the Sovereign National Conference(SNC), Nas said he would support it if such a conference would not lead to the violent balkanisation of the country adding that SNC should provide avenue for Nigerians to air thier views on the problems in the country.
On the zoning system being adopted by various political parties, the former minister said he was opposed to the zoning method adding that everybody should have a chance to contest any elective office in the country.
He berated the PDP Board of Trustee Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih for saying that obasanjo will decide who will become president in 2007 adding that Anenih can only dictate to his political associates in the PDP.
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