AFP - Niger's President Mamadou Tandja Friday said he was assuming emergency powers after a failed bid to prolong his stay in office by changing the constitution to allow him to run for a third term.
The 71-year-old leader said in a television address that he was invoking "article 58 of the constitution" giving him special powers "because the independence of the country is threatened." Tandja had already run into opposition from the Constitutional Court in his attempt to hold a referendum on changing the constitution to enable him to run for a third five-year elected term in office after his mandate expires in December. Tandja, 71, first announced his referendum proposal in early May, but the opposition, the trade unions and non-governmental organisations all turned to the Constitutional Court, which on June 12 annulled the president's plan. The court's decisions are binding on the head of state, whose bid to stage the referendum has also led to street protests and strikes. Nevertheless, on Wednesday evening Tandja submitted a request to the court, asking it to retract its ruling on the grounds that it had gone beyond its competence.
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3 comments:
Hey A.W. Thanx for walking on my blog. Nice to be here and i loved the news. Let's keep our eyes WATCHING AFRICA. Our Motherland
Blessings
Why does President Tandja think he is the only one who can rule Niger? Is he saying he could not do all that he wanted to do in 2 terms? It is a sad story for Africa and the people of Niger.
The interest of Niger would be best serve if Tandja could realise how bad it is to govern through emergency powers. At 71 Tandja should be thinking about how to promote and defend democracy not treating it with contempt.
The people of Niger must rise to demand Tandja resignation. He has had his chance of contributing to Niger's development, it is time for someone to continue where he lift off.
Tandja's advisors must advice him to do the right thing. Let us give democracy a chance in Africa.
President Tandja should just do the honorable thing by finishing his remaining term and then retire and allow others to continue from where he left off.It is improper and against the spirit of democracy and development for him to hang on to power when the constitution bars him from doing that. How long can he rule through emergency powers?
He is an old man and he leave a good example for the future generation to emulate.
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