From Tony John, Port Harcourt; Noah Ebije, Kaduna; Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti; Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin and Femi Folarin, Yenagoa
The Patriots, a group of eminent Nigerians visited President Bola Tinubu, recently, urging him on the need to set in motion the process of getting a new people’s constitution that would replace the current 1999 constitution.
In this report, some Nigerians share their opinions on the merits and demerits of having a new constitution.
1999 constitution doesn’t reflect true wishes of various ethnic groups – Prof. Edward Ogunleye, lecturer, Ado-Ekiti
Nigeria surely needs a new constitution. It’s well known that the present one was drafted by a few individuals in the military and handed over to us. It doesn’t reflect the true wishes of the various ethnic groups making up the country to continue to coexist.
Among many other reasons, the system of government is unacceptable as it has been too expensive and has made it possible for the governed to be impoverished.
Nigeria needs new constitution with regional autonomy – Reverend Father Peter Olowolafe, ex-chairman, CAN, Ado-Ekiti
Nigeria needs a new constitution that is similar to 1963 constitution that gave room for competition among each region of Nigeria. We need a new constitution that would create regional autonomy; that gives room for economy autonomy, regional police.
We need attitudinal change, not new constitution – Comrade Joel Akinola, chairman, Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Ado-Ekiti
The problem with Nigeria is essentially attitudinal. The mindset of our leaders towards governance has to change from self enrichment to positive and genuine service to the masses.
There are countries without written constitution but the primary concern of their leaders is impactful development. Nigerian leaders hide under the imperfections of the constitution to exploit the people. There is no perfect constitution.
Nigeria needs paradigm shift, attitudinal revolution – Abdullazeez Suleiman, spokesperson, Northern Elders Forum; Kaduna
The idea of creating a new People’s Democratic Constitution as proposed by the Patriots, may seem like a promising solution and it could also be just another political manoeuvre in a country where political gamesmanship is all too common. What is truly needed is a shift in the mindset of Nigerians and a new generation of cultured leaders who are willing to make concessions and adopt a novel framework of governance. Representation is essential in any democracy, and Nigeria is no exception.
The ongoing tensions between majority and minority ethnic groups highlight the need for a more nuanced representation system that can promote inclusivity and equity.
Nigeria is in dire need of a major paradigm shift and attitudinal revolution to address the deep-seated issues facing the country. Simply revising the constitution will not be enough to bring about real change unless there is a fundamental shift in the mindset and behaviour of those in power.
1999 constitution lopsided, too much power invested in one office – Sunday Oibe, secretary general, Northern CAN; Kaduna
The issue of demand for the review of the constitution has been a long desire in the hearts of many Nigerians. In 2014, under the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan, there was the national confab, where the best brains were gathered and they produced a beautiful work that resembled the constitution that Nigerians are yearning for.
However, some people, including the current president, Bola Tinubu, jettisoned it. They refused to participate. The deficiency of the 1999 constitution starts from the opening statement: “We the people”, who are the “we the people”? When did Nigerians gather together to say that we have bequeathed to ourselves a constitution, it was a military fiat? That is the deficiency number one. The deficiency number two is that it is lopsided. Too much power is invested in one office. The 2014 Confab report will be able to help us to address some critical issues that are bedevilling Nigeria.
Nothing wrong with 1999 constitution – Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, convener of Arewa Think Tank (ATT); Kaduna
The problem of Nigeria is not about having a new constitution. We have to make do with the one we are using now because nothing is wrong with it. Our current problem is how to tackle insecurity and hunger in the country. So, all hands must be on deck to support President Bola Tinubu to rid this country of socio-economic challenges the country is currently undergoing. The Patriots who asked Tinubu to review the 1999 constitution at this critical time did not give full thought about the immediate priorities of the nation. So, we at Arewa Think Tank are against the constitution review for now until Nigeria is fully secured from the hands of terrorists and other criminals in the country.
Nigeria can’t continue with moribund 1999 constitution – Adams Aliu, constitutional lawyer, Benin-City
It is proper for the 1999 constitution to be reviewed because times have changed, the dramatic personae have changed and we cannot be using a moribund constitution of 1999, especially, when it was given to us by the military.
The country is not working, it has to be restructured – Tony Abolo, media consultant, Benin City
Anybody, especially those in Abuja, who are pretending that we don’t need a constitutional review are deceiving themselves. They are postponing the evil days. It is absolutely imperative to restructure the country through a constitutional review because the country is not working. Why keep something of 64 years that is not working? It doesn’t make sense.
Whenever you say it, some persons are offended by it. We are saying, if you restructure the country through a constitutional review, we will devolve power, we will devolve how income is spread and we will make the country stronger.
The present federal constitution is unitary in character – Matthew Edeghase, lawyer, Benin City
Nigeria needs a new constitution that will truly be federal in nature and content. The present federal constitution is unitary in character; it concentrates too much power in the centre.
A federation must not be run like a unitary, power must be decentralised or devolved to the federating units for effective governance.
There should be a new constitution that will provide for fiscal federalism, state police, and resources control by the states where such resources are domiciled.
The power of the president should be reduced and the power to appoint the head of the Independent National Electoral commissioner should be given to the National Assembly.
Nigeria needs constitution that will nationalise citizens – Jackson Ojo, security consultant, Port Harcourt
In Nigeria, we are living together as strange bedfellows. There is no brotherhood, no nationhood in our existence. We are just living like market people (who immediately after the market period, go back to their respective homes). We need a constitution that will nationalise us as a nation.
But, there are so many things we need now before we begin to address the issue of constitution. Let Nigerians be well fed; let there be jobs for our graduates; let there be hope of a future for the undergraduates. Let the farmer be able to go to farm; let the politicians stop stealing.
The present constitution reinforces nation’s false federalism – Legborsi Pyagbara, ex-MOSOP President, Port Harcourt
I agree with the Patriots because the 1999 constitution is not an organic constitution that came through the people’s effective participation.
It reinforces our false federalism in name whilst practising unitary system, which had helped to hold the component units of the federation down.
1999 constitution as amended has so many flaws -Emmanuel Nwabrije, politician Port Harcourt
Yes, a new constitution is not out of place. Truly, the 1999 constitution as amended has so many flaws. Best case scenario is simply to adapt the 1959 constitution blended with the 1963 constitution and Nigeria as a nation is good to go.
Nigeria needs new democratic constitution to reflect the nature of country -Ebinyu George Aderigha, vice chairman, CLO, Yenagoa
The problem with Nigeria is not about our constitution, we have leadership problems, and our democratic institutions are not responsible enough to carry the wishes of the people.
Be that as it may, our constitution is not the constitution of “we the people” as it ought to be. Our constitution was inherited from the colonial masters that did not take into consideration our traditional institutions and our indigenous system of government. This has been the problem with the 1999 constitution, which was forced on us by a military junta. In essence Nigeria needs a new democratic constitution to reflect the complex nature of Nigeria taking into consideration our unity in diversity.
Why Nigeria needs new constitution- Ebikebuna Augustine Aluzu, lawyer, Yenagoa
Yes. Nigeria needs a constitution that works; a constitution that will meet the yearning and aspirations of the people. One that is not only democratic but also truly federal.
We can see from the structures, including the security architecture in the 1999 constitution. There are so many unitary structures in place despite having a federal constitution. Our federalism is only on lips but not in motion.
It will take more than the Supreme Court pronouncement for the federal units including the local government to work. Our federalism is built on marginalisation and injustice.