3 Reasons We’re Against Review Of 1999 Constitution — Gov Okowa, Afe Babalola
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and veteran lawyer, Afe Babalola, have given separate reasons why they’re not in support of the National Assembly’s ongoing effort to review and amend Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution.
According to Okowa, the country needs total “re-writing” of the 1999 Constitution, rather than yearly amendment of the country’s current and fourth republican constitution.
Advertisement
This, the governor said, was because of some “lacunas” in the current constitution which only a brand-new constitution can address.
The governor stated this when he received the Senate Sub-Committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution led by Senator James Manager at the Delta State Government House in Asaba.
“It has become imperative that a new Constitution be drafted for our country in view of some Delta State in the 1999 Constitution. We need to find a way of re-writing the Constitution rather than just doing amendments yearly,” Okowa told his guests.
Advertisement
On his part, Babalola described the 1999 Constitution as the “root cause” of the myriad of problems facing Nigeria because it was foisted on the citizens by the military.
Babalola described the planned constitutional amendment as a pointless exercise because, “is impossible, by way of amendment, to take away the military system of government under the 1999 Constitution or the power and control of public funds by the President.”
He said the nation requires a people’s constitution that should come about through a national dialogue.
Babalola further explained that the unitary character of the 1999 Constitution allocates too much power to the president.
“Or can we, by way of amendment, change the Judicial powers of the President under the 1999 Constitution?
Advertisement
“The root cause of our problems, which has brought Nigeria to the brink of extinction, is the 1999 Constitution foisted on it by the Military when it was exiting the reign of governance in 1999.
“The fact remains that you cannot amend a Coconut tree which has no branches to become and Iroko tree which has branches. It is a well-known fact that everything about the 1999 constitution is wound round the Presidential system of government.
“Why then is the National Assembly afraid of calling a National Constitutional Conference to fashion out a new true federal constitution and come up with a Parliamentary system of government like we had in 1963.
“Alternatively, since amendment in law includes substitution for an existing document, why is it that the National Assembly cannot call for a Public Hearing on the substitution of the 1999 Constitution for the 1963 Constitution which was made with the consent of the people?
“The proposed amendment to the 1999 Constitution, whichever way you look at it, is a futile exercise. We all know that previous sessions of National Assembly had made laws to convene National Conference.
“I, therefore, advise that the current National Assembly should call for a National Conference to discuss and make a new true federal constitution which will provide for a Parliamentary system of government,” he said.
