Renowned legal practitioner and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Yusuf Ali, has called for the adoption of a six-year single term for the President and state governors.
Speaking in Ifetedo, Osun State, on Friday, during the inauguration of the remodeled Central Mosque, a project he funded, Ali argued that the proposed tenure would enhance political stability and reduce tension in governance.
Ali noted that a single six-year term would eliminate the political infighting and distractions often associated with leaders seeking re-election after their first term. “You will know that once you spend your six years, you are out of the place, and there will be peace relatively,” he said.
He also criticized the lack of character among political leaders, which he said has negatively impacted governance.
According to Ali, Nigeria’s constitution contains sufficient provisions, such as impeachment, to address poor leadership, but the failure to utilize these mechanisms effectively stems from a lack of integrity.
“The system is self-cleansing, but only if we have character. Unfortunately, most of us don’t have character, and you need character for a system to work well,” Ali said.
The senior advocate emphasized the need for a collective change in attitude among Nigerians to achieve meaningful progress. “If Nigerians don’t change their attitudes, nothing will take us to any Eldorado. We must first agree on that,” he concluded.
Ali’s proposal adds to ongoing discussions about political reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s democratic process.