The legal authority, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), urged the National Assembly to find ways to wake up and replenish the 1963 Constitution, contrary to the 1999 Constitution being considered for amendment.
He said the 1999 constitution would not solve Nigeria‘s problems.
Babalola gave this advice in a statement he personally signed to Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday.
“Alternatively, given that the amendment to the law includes the substitution of an existing document, why can the National Assembly not request a public hearing on the substitution of the 1999 constitution for the 1963 constitution which been made with the consent of the people? “
The legal icon said the only constitution you could work on to make a difference was the 1963 constitution.
He expressed doubts that the amendment to the 1999 constitution as being considered by the National Assembly would be adequate to fully resolve the nation’s problems.
In the alternative, Afe Babalola University founder Ado Ekiti suggested calling a national conference to accommodate all nuances of opinions on how to move the country forward.
“In the context of the massive demand by Nigerians at home and abroad for a true federal constitution made by the people and for the people, the National Assembly calls for a public hearing in the six geopolitical zones of the country to obtain people’s contributions on any issue. interest to allow him to modify the constitution of 1999, but I have reservations about this
For me, the amendment proposed to the 1999 constitution by the National Assembly: whatever your eyes, is a futile exercise.
“We all know that previous sessions of the National Assembly have passed laws to convene a national conference. I therefore advise that the current National Assembly call for a national conference to discuss and make a new, true federal constitution which will provide for a system of parliamentary government, ”he said.
Continuing, the legal icon said, “It is common knowledge that the 1999 constitution was made by the military who in their wisdom claimed it was made by the people.
“Said constitution says, inter alia, that: ‘We the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, having resolutely and solemnly resolve … hereby do and give the following …’ Of course, this statement is false.
“The truth is that there is no way for the National Assembly to change the 1999 constitution to remedy the flaws inherent in the 1999 constitution.
“First, you cannot cure fraud. Second, it is impossible, by amendment, to abolish the military system of government under the 1999 constitution or the power and control of public funds by the president.
“Or can we, by amendment, change the judicial powers of the President under the 1999 Constitution?”
According to him, the root cause of the nation’s current problems is the 1999 constitution, imposed by the military upon its exit from the reign of governance in 1999.
“The fact remains that you cannot modify a coconut palm that has no branches to become an iroko tree that has branches.
“It is a well-known fact that everything about the 1999 constitution is wrapped around the presidential system of government,” he said.
