Uzodimma, Diri, Bode George Seek New Constitution, State Police

Eminent Nigerians have stressed the need to come up with a new constitution that will reflect the wishes and aspirations of Nigerians, saying further reliance on the 1999 constitution as solution to the nation’s problem is a waste of time, and it will spell doom for the country.

The prominent Nigerians who spoke at a public lecture organised by freedom online publication titled: “2023- 2027: Nigerians elected leaders and expectations’’, noted that setting up state police is crucial if Nigeria is determined to end the problem of insecurity it is facing.

According to Imo State Governor Hope Uzodima who was the guest speaker, the expectations of every Nigerian is good governance, adding that they are increasingly demanding for it and asking for it.

The governor who was represented by his commissioner for information Decklam Emelumba said the lapses in the 1999 constitution prevented the state government from performing up to expectations.

He pointed out that the size of the country made it difficult for it to be governed effectively, adding that for the centre to be deciding affairs of the state in areas of policing and other issues that should be the exclusive responsibility of the state, makes governance difficult.

The keynote speaker Bayelsa State governor Douye Diri said inability of state government to control their resources has created set- back for many states, stressing that if the state were empowered like the regions were empowered to control their resources in the first republic, a lot of advancement would have been recorded in the states.

Governor Diri, who was represented by his Chief Press Secretary Mr. Daniel Alabrah said for Nigeria to rise to the great height envisaged by her founding father, it needed to come up with the constitution that will empower the state to control their resources.

The former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, Chief Olabode George urged Nigerians to keep praying for the progress of the country, stressing that Nigeria required spiritual assistance.

He maintained that the 1999 constitution should be discarded because it makes provision for waste and will always set the country backward.

“Let us put an end to the economic inequalities, injustice, unfairness in the distribution of our God given resources and our financial wealth.” Chief George said.

Earlier in his welcome address, the publisher of Freedom online Mr. Gabriel Akin -Adewo  noted that unless Nigeria has a constitution which reflects the wishes and aspirations of Nigerians the country can never have a breakthrough.