Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday said whatever the strength or weakness of a constitution, the most important issue is the operators of the law.
Obasanjo said no matter what is done to the Nigerian constitution, if the operators for the past one decade and a half remain unchanged, the welfare of Nigerians will continue to be sacrificed on the altar of selfishness, self-centeredness, corruption, impunity, among others.
The former president stated this in his submission at the National Constitutional Submit with the theme: “Actualising a Constitutional Democracy that Works For All in Nigeria” organised by The Patriots (Eminent National Leaders of Thought), in Abuja.
Obasanjo, whose remarks were read by the Secretary General of Eminent Patriots, Hon. Olawale Okunniyi, said the best constitution can be perverted and distorted by the operators as experienced all over Africa, with Nigeria not exempted.
“From my experience in operating our Constitution, I will be the first to point out some areas of our Constitution that need amendment. However, for me, no Constitution can ever be regarded as perfect.
“But whatever the strength or weakness of a Constitution, the most important issue to my own understanding and experience are the operators of the Constitution.”
The former president added that, “At this crucial time, the operators matter more and the searchlight should be on them. When we get the right operators, they will give us the amended or new Constitution close to what we need to make every Nigerian a proud stakeholder in the Project Nigeria.”
For his part, a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Victor Attah said the 1999 Constitution was not a people’s constitution but a military decree, impose without the consent of the people.
According to Attah, the 1963 Constitution which was suspended by the military remains the last legal expression of the people’s collective will and agreed terms of condition for staying together.
Attah said, “The 1999 Constitution was not a people’s constitution. It was a military decree, impose without the consent of the people. The military suspended the 1963 Constitution which remains the last legal expression of our people’s collective will and agreed terms of condition for staying together.
“That Constitution was suspended; it was never repealed, proscribed or abrogated. At the end, rather than lift the suspension and restore our legitimate constitution, it was instead replaced with a fraudulent document that begins with the lie: ‘We the people….’”
Attah questioned Nigeria’s democracy where he claimed that election results were determined by other undemocratic means rather than the ballot.
“This is not democracy. This is elite authoritarianism with scanty democratic decoration. And the people know it. That is why voter turnout declines. That is why trust in the government is dead,” Attah said.
On what the new constitution must fix, the former Akwa Ibom State governor said sovereignty must return to the people, “We must get rid of this unitary system and reinstate the federal system of governance that our founding fathers had agreed to.”
He added that the summit will be successful if it answers the question of the relationship between the nations that form Nigeria working; if the constitution was helping the nationalities to unite, coexist peacefully, and prosper and the type of constitution as well as if the political system was inclusive and delivering accountable governance and promoting national progress.
“If we cannot honestly face these questions and leave here with a clear strategy, timeline and commitment to change, then this summit, with all its good intentions, would have been a tragic waste of opportunity.
“We must not be afraid to change. We must rather be afraid not to change. Nigeria’s unity will only be preserved through fairness and justice – not force or fear. And if we miss this opportunity, the next chapter may be one of irreversible fragmentation. I believe, and I know many of you also believe, that time is running out,” Attah said.
Also speaking, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, called for a constitution that promotes inclusivity, accountability,
federalism with devolution of power and security.
The monarch who spoke through Okunniyi noted emphasised that the constitution must be inclusive, ensuring that every Nigerian has a voice and opportunity to contribute to the nation’s growth and development.
“We must establish a system that will promote accountability, transparency, and good governance. A truly federal system with adequate checks and balances, and devolution of power that will allow for regional autonomy, encourage innovation and progress at the local level, and ensure that power is not concentrated in one entity.
“Our constitution should prioritise the safety and security of Nigerians, addressing pressing issues like internal insecurity, and ensuring that our nation is protected and stable. Nigerians, addressing pressing issues like internal insecurity, and ensuring that our nation is protected and stable,” he said.
The Obi also stressed the need for the constitution to prioritise the wellbeing of Nigerians, ensuring a level playing field for all citizens and addressing pressing issues like hunger, poverty, illiteracy, and disease.
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