2006年VOA标准英语-Nigerian Parliament Questions Constitution

By Gilbert da Costa
Abuja
28 April 2006

 
Olusegun Obasanjo
  

Several Nigerian parliamentarians are pressing for a full investigation¹ into an attempt to introduce changes to a draft bill before the assembly, which seeks to change sections of the constitution. The proposed amendments² would grant President Olusegun Obasanjo the right to vie for a third term in office. Lawmakers poised³ for a showdown over the issue.

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Opponents of proposed constitutional changes in Nigeria have accused the presidency⁴ of manipulating the legislature ahead of a crucial vote.
 
Both houses of the assembly had adopted the draft bill on proposed amendments and a debate is scheduled for the next few days.
 
Lawmakers Thursday rejected attempts to modify some aspects of the bill without recourse to established procedure.
 
Opponents of the bill have subsequently called for a full investigation. Usman Bugaje is a member of the lower house of parliament and a critic of Mr. Obasanjo.

"These are people who are committing a crime that in my opinion is next to felony, because you cannot tamper⁵ with sacred documents which have been placed on the table," he said.  "In other words, they are the property of the national assembly. To tamper with them, to substitute them or do anything with them is a terrible crime. This goes to show that the presidency and the people behind this agenda are constantly moving in the direction of breach⁶ of rules, regulations, constitutions and rule of law."

Those in favor of extending the president's term have rejected the allegation. They insist that their campaign had been anchored on respect for the rule of law. Leading the pro-change lobby is Deputy Senate president Ibrahim Mantu.
 
"Thank God the proceeding⁷ of the national assembly is done in the open," he said.  "Everything we do is in the open. So, there is no way anybody can stage-manage anything in a process or in a system where everything is actually done in the open."

Intense lobbying has characterized the build-up to the parliamentary vote. Opponents and supporters are already claiming victory.
 
Usman Bugaje says there is enough support in the lower chamber⁸ to defeat the bill.

"I have no doubt in my mind that we have more than the number," he said.  "I can even go as far as saying if we really allow people to vote without intimidation⁹, I don't think they will have one-third. I don't think they have up to one-third. If you remove all the intimidation and the harassment¹⁰ and the pressures, and you allow people to vote, because everybody knows that 90 percent of Nigerians are not in support of third term. They are against third term."

The so-called third term debate has become a national obsession¹¹. Analysts¹² say the decisions made in the next few days could define the very existence of the West African nation.

1 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

2 amendments   

（法律、文件的）改动( amendment的名词复数 )； 修正案； 修改； （美国宪法的）修正案

参考例句：

• The committee does not adequately consult others when drafting amendments. 委员会在起草修正案时没有充分征求他人的意见。
• Please propose amendments and addenda to the first draft of the document. 请对这个文件的初稿提出修改和补充意见。

3 poised   

a.摆好姿势不动的

参考例句：

• The hawk poised in mid-air ready to swoop. 老鹰在半空中盘旋，准备俯冲。
• Tina was tense, her hand poised over the telephone. 蒂娜心情紧张，手悬在电话机上。

4 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

5 tamper   

v.干预，玩弄，贿赂，窜改，削弱，损害

参考例句：

• Do not tamper with other's business.不要干预别人的事。
• They had strict orders not to tamper with the customs of the minorities.他们得到命令严禁干涉少数民族的风俗习惯。

6 breach   

n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破

参考例句：

• We won't have any breach of discipline.我们不允许任何破坏纪律的现象。
• He was sued for breach of contract.他因不履行合同而被起诉。

7 proceeding   

n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报

参考例句：

• This train is now proceeding from Paris to London.这次列车从巴黎开往伦敦。
• The work is proceeding briskly.工作很有生气地进展着。

8 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

9 intimidation   

n.恐吓，威胁

参考例句：

• The Opposition alleged voter intimidation by the army.反对党声称投票者受到军方的恐吓。
• The gang silenced witnesses by intimidation.恶帮用恐吓的手段使得证人不敢说话。

10 harassment   

n.骚扰，扰乱，烦恼，烦乱

参考例句：

• She often got telephone harassment at night these days.这些天她经常在夜晚受到电话骚扰。
• The company prohibits any form of harassment.公司禁止任何形式的骚扰行为。

11 obsession   

n.困扰，无法摆脱的思想(或情感)

参考例句：

• I was suffering from obsession that my career would be ended.那时的我陷入了我的事业有可能就此终止的困扰当中。
• She would try to forget her obsession with Christopher.她会努力忘记对克里斯托弗的迷恋。

12 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。