From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has called for a return to the 1964 Constitution as a solution to what he described as the inherent flaws of the 1999 Constitution.
PANDEF Leader Edwin Clark stated this on the sidelines of the Nkata Ndi Inyom Igbo conference yesterday in Abuja.
Clark, represented by the National Publicity Secretary, Obiuwevbi Ominimini, highlighted the difficulty in amending the 1999 Constitution, citing it as a major obstacle to progress.
He referenced the failure of state legislatures to support autonomy proposals from the National Assembly as an example of the Constitution’s “clumsy nature.”
“The 1999 Constitution is a military document handed over to civilians. It is inherently flawed and has made governance inefficient. We need to revert to the 1964 Constitution, which allowed regions to control their resources and pay taxes to the centre.
“This system encouraged growth at individual paces and avoided the current dependency of states on federal allocations,” he said.
He criticised several aspects of the current governance system, including state-level Independent Electoral Commissions, the immunity granted to governors, and what he termed a lack of inclusivity in ministerial appointments.
He decried the disparity in ministerial distribution, citing Ogun State with four ministers, Lagos State with several, while the South-East and South-South zones are under-represented despite their economic contributions.
On inclusivity, he emphasised the need for equitable treatment of all ethnic groups and specifically advocated the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
“Nobody should be treated as a second-class citizen in their own country,” he remarked, urging the government to address marginalisation and embrace unity.
He concluded by stating that Nigeria’s challenges stem from leadership, not followership, and called for strong, visionary leaders to rebuild the country.
“With the right leadership, we can treat every citizen as a first-class citizen and create a nation where fairness and justice prevail,” he added.