The Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, The Most Reverend (Dr) Henry Ndukuba, has called on the Nigerian government to develop a new people-oriented constitution.
He made this call at the official opening of the Standing Committee meeting of the Church of Nigeria holding at the St. Andrew’s Basilica Anglican Church, Trans Ekulu, Enugu State.
Archbishop Ndukuba noted that everyone knows that Nigeria as a nation is beset by a number of nagging issues, some of which have recently come to the fore and have been ventilated by various groups in the country, especially with the recent Endbadgovernance protest.
“We are convinced that while our National Assembly has done well in the amendment of the military-bequeathed constitution, Nigeria is due to have a new constitution which will be made by the Sovereign Assembly of the peoples of Nigeria. This new constitution will take into consideration the concerns already expressed in the Sovereign National Conferences and the various calls for the Restructuring of Nigeria. Shying away from doing this amounts to postponing the Dooms day.
The primate added that President Bola Tinubu’s administration needs to lay a solid foundation for democratic governance and give Nigeria a civilian and democratic constitution that will address the root causes of the xenophobic agitations of the citizens.
He also noted the unique ‘Endbadgovernance’ protest was held despite lacking an identifiable leadership or clear set of demands and in spite of the spirited efforts of the Federal and State governments to avert it. This was a clear indication that the people are tired of constant but failed promises by government to stem the rising cost of living which has imposed severe hardship on most households in the country.
“Furthermore, the often-amplified calls for understanding and sacrifice by those in authority while their lifestyle, actions, display of affluence and luxury in the midst of scarcity for most people, does not help matters. The protest is a clarion call to governments at all levels, especially the federal, to heed the cry of the people, and not scapegoat anyone as no government can legislate or stop people who are hungry from protesting.”
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