‘Nigerian’s vehement on call for new constitution’

Nigerians have remained adamant on the call for a new constitution as the latest entrant, to the call and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, (SAN) Mike Ozekhome told the committee in Abuja that the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was an already prepared document foisted on Nigerians.

He said the new Nigeria stands a better chance of working out a new constitution that would meet the myriad of challenges besetting her.

Ozekhome said, “it was impossible to correct the myriads of anomalies that litter the extant Constitution insisting that the process should birth a new Constitution to cater for the structural and political needs of the nation.”

Ozekhome’s call is in tandem with calls by the FixPolitics that insisted that Nigeria can only be managed well with a new constitution.

Ozekhome maintained that: “1999 Constitution was hurriedly compiled from the schedules of Decree 4 by the military.

The constitution is a unitary document which over concentrated powers at the centre in a federation.”

Ozekhome, described the 1999 Constitution as “an illegitimate child,” pointing out that no amount of amendments will give it legitimacy.

“You cannot put something on nothing”,

Dismissing the call for a new constitution, chairman of the National Constitution Review Committee, Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege said the call cannot stand because it runs against the grains of the 1999 Constitution.

Omo-Agege was also speaking to the position of the entire five states of the Southwest under the auspices of BRADEC which believed the country can return to regional constitution that solved the structural issue.

Chief Tom Ikimi who spoke on behalf of the region, said the state sought a new constitution and a reduction of the membership of the national assembly to a single house while its membership of over 469 members was reduced to meet present economic reality.

Omo-Agege in his reply said they should approach the court for the nullification of the 1999 Constitution which all elected and appointed official of government have sworn to defend.

Ozekhome said while he understand that the national assembly lacked the power to call for New Constitution it should use the opportunity of Constitutional review to begin a process for a new Constitution.

In his submission, BRADEC spokesperson, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tom Ikimi said the group is shocked at remarks that the Nigerian people cannot have a brand new constitution even when it is widely accepted that the 1999 Constitution is seriously flawed.

The group said while it may not be feasible to immediately have a new constitution; the National Assembly can begin the process now.

BRADEC supports the views of Southern Governors on restructuring and backs return to a regional arrangement that will make it possible for the various regions to operate separately and make progress at their own pace.

The group supports the establishment of State Police which it considers as one of the solutions to Nigeria’s mounting insecurity challenge.

Former Head of Service, Yayale Ahmad who was at the public hearing to renew calls for the creation of Katagum State, also backed the idea of having a new constitution.

Ahmad said he is not surprised that the issue has come up 22 years after the military handed down the 1999 Constitution without the input of the people.

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