Tinubu should have political will to get Nigeria’s new constitution, says Ozekhome
Mike Ozekhome, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has challenged President Bola Tinubu to marshal the political will to implement a people-centered constitution in Africa’s most populous country.
The human rights lawyer appeared on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics show. He is a member of The Patriots, a group of prominent Nigerians led by former Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku, who met with the President on Friday at the State House in Abuja.
When asked if the President has the political will to implement a new constitution, the senior lawyer responded, “Well, he should have the political will because these problems will not go away until we address them head on.”
When asked if a new constitution offers a cure to poverty, insecurity, and other ills facing the Nigerian state, Ozekhome replied, “Yes. The killings you see, the poverty, and the corruption are all symptoms of a deeper problem that lies at the heart of what we are discussing. “When you solve it, other things will fall into place.”Ozekhome contended that the 1999 Constitution was military-imposed and not open to a referendum. He stated that Nigeria requires an indigenous and people-centric constitution to redirect the country’s “journey of no destination”.
According to him, Nigeria lacks nationhood. “Nigeria is a country that still longs for nationhood. “We are not united,” he stated. He stated that the new constitution must be subjected to a popular referendum.
When asked if Nigeria must form a constituents’ assembly before drafting a new constitution, the senior counsel stated, “We must have a constituents’ assembly, and only the National Assembly can approve legislation in this regard. Then the proposed constitution will be signed by the President, and we will have a constitution.”
He stated that if the people agree that they want a unicameral legislature, “that is how it will be,” as democracy is decided by the people.
‘Engine Of The Nigerian State Knocked’
Ozekhome went on to say that the Nigerian state’s engine (constitution) had failed and needed to be changed.
“The political elite must agree. If you’re driving a car with a knocked engine.
Isn’t that the engine you should look at? Do you start panel-bashing the automobile, spraying it with pretty paint, and buying new tires? Will this move the car?
“I am saying that the engine of the Nigerian state, for now, is knocked and it is giving rise to all these mutual suspicion, religious intolerance.”
He stated that economic reforms are beneficial, but they should not be prioritized over a people-centered constitution. He stated that in order for Nigeria’s problems to be resolved, the National Assembly must adopt a new constitution.
Ozekhome’s statements came in response to the 2014 National Conference Report, which included recommendations for constitutional modification, community policing, fiscal federalism, and restructuring, among other things.
A decade ago, then-President Goodluck Jonathan and other officials organized the conference to provide practical proposals for moving the country forward.
The national debate began on March 17, 2014, with the late eminent jurist Justice Idris Kutigi (retd.) serving as chairman.
The conference drew 494 Nigerians from all walks of life and lasted nearly five months. The colloquium cost over N10 billion and yielded over 600 recommendations, including suggestions for reforming Nigeria’s political, economic, social, and security institutions to suppress agitations from various geopolitical sectors and establish long-term peace.
However, the confab’s suggestions have not been implemented by subsequent administrations.
SOURCE CHANNELSTV
