1 July 2009
Niamey — Responses were mixed in Niger to union leaders' call for a 24-hour work stoppage on 1 July to protest a planned constitutional referendum to allow President Mamadou Tandja to remain in power.
President Tandja, who had insisted he would step down after his constitutionally mandated two terms, in recent weeks has not acknowledged a ruling by the country's highest court deeming illegal a change to the article limiting presidential terms.
On the day of the declared strike, taxis were plentiful even as markets were emptier than usual by mid-day in the capital Niamey.
Halidou Djibo, a student at Abdou Moumouni University, told IRIN the referendum is inevitable. "The proof is the dissolution of the constitutional court, which did not go along with his calls [for the referendum]. The new court will be under his control and do all he requests."
The country's highest court ruled the referendum was illegal three times before President Tandja de facto dissolved the court by decree on 29 June. The president suspended articles stipulating how members are nominated and the length of their terms.
Niamey business owner Djibrilla Yayé told IRIN he is ready to fight for the rule of law. "One cannot govern for 10 years and [then] want to change the laws in order to stay in power for eternity."
But Moussa Ismaïla, a businessman from the northern business hub Agadez, discounted criticism that changing the constitution would be unconstitutional. "What is a democracy? Is it not the will of the people? If the majority of us want him to continue, we vote yes. If people do not want him to stay in power, they vote no and he leaves."
Donor governments have called for Niger's leaders to respect constitutional order.
[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations ]
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What in the world is wrong with Africans?
You come to power after somebody relinguishes power to you and when it is your turn to leave for somebody else to come and continue governing the country, you decide that you will change the constitution so that you can stay on forever.
This story is not akin to Niger alone. Gambia's Jammeh is a virtual president for life, Cameroun's Biya swears that he will die in office, Nguema of Equatoria Guinea says his country belongs to him, Museveni is telling his country folks that since he liberated them from Idi Amin,… [Read Full Text]
Threat or no threat of economic sanctions, let the good people of Niger decide what is best for them. For my brethren up there in Niamey, all you need do is to look south of the border to see what the western-style “democracy” has done for the copy-copy “yessir-yesman” Nigerians. If you think that Mr. Tandja has the wherewithal to deliver quality leadership until he can adequately educate the public & politicians, alike about the principles of democracy, rights of the led and the responsibilities of the leaders by putting the public first, and about the electorates picking the right… [Read Full Text]
Who made Mamadou Tanjda lord over Niger? Are you telling me that this man is the only person in that country that has brains and therefore ordained to lead his people to the promised land? What has he achieved in 10 years that should make him think that he alone has the answer to what the people of Niger need?
Your analysis runs hollow and can only come from somebody who does not believe in the rule of law.
The Western democracy is not perfect, neither is it without its shortcomings, but it is the best model of… [Read Full Text]
That is the same logic used by the woefully corrupt Nigerian politicians to truncate the previous effective administration "...who made Obasanjo Lord over us?" "...is he the only one that can deliver quality leadership?" Well, Nigerians now know better that they should have kept what worked instead of this major disappointment. Too late to go back now as more years are been wasted on mediocrity. I won't be surprised if "Prince Charles" of Africa is a politician that has been smarting to lay his sticky-palms on a juicy political job so he too can chop a little at the… [Read Full Text]
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Active Discussions: Niger's Tandja Tries to Extend Rule