1999 Constitution Can Not Address Nigeria’s Economic Situation – Anyaoku

Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, has said that the current Nigerian constitution would not adequately address the nation’s economic predicaments and other myriad of challenges.

Speaking to journalists on Saturday, Anyaoku said the current challenges being faced in the nation like poverty, insecurity, and dilapidated infrastructure among others were serious challenges bedevilling the country.

“I am on record for saying that these challenges can not be effectively addressed under the constitution and governance system we have at the moment.

“We can not effectively address these challenges that have assumed a nationwide dimension, especially insecurity which has pervaded the Northern part of the country and other communities,” he said.

He stressed that the current constitution was a departure from the constitution that the nation’s founding fathers negotiated and agreed upon.

“The constitution, for a pluralistic state as Nigeria, we have to return to those principles of the constitution as earlier agreed by our founding fathers.

“Until we do that, I am afraid that we can not effectively deal with the challenges facing the nation,” he added.

When asked about the Monday sit-at-home observed in the South East region and the negative effects on the economy, the elder statesman said that the sit-at-home was causing great damage to the economy of the country.

“The sit-at-home at home is doing great damage to the economy of the South East region, I do not support the idea, I think it is doing great damage to the economy. We have to deal with the root cause of sit-at-home, which is the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu.

“Notwithstanding the fact that the court of law had ordered his released, that word gives those who advocate and participate in sit-at-home the reason for doing so.

“I think that the cause of the sit-at-home should be addressed, I do not think that the sit-at-home should be maintained, it should be stopped,” he suggested.