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Constitutional Amendment, Not Sovereign National Conference, Is Pathway To A Reformed Polity
- By Adebayo Adejare
- Published 02/14/2006
- Position Papers
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What evidence (without a referendum) is there of irreconcilable incompatibility among the peoples of Nigeria? Do we cease to be compatible at the mere suggestion of our foreign detractors? The SNC Protagonists must disclose (in any case) their agenda. That agenda must include their own models or proposal as to how the country should be broken or how it should be held together. Right now the only sensible proposals on ground are the Gideon Orkar Proposal and the National Political Conference Report. Nigeria of the new millennium has no room for iconoclasts. It is up to others to submit theirs for consideration rather than continually berate those submitted without proposing alternatives.
The present efforts at Constitutional Amendment (2006) affords opportunity for a peaceful and amicable route for parts and nationalities that desire separate sovereign existence to pursue that objective. It is unfortunate that some have gone ahead to unilaterally declare secession in utter disregard of the binding provisions of the 1999 Constitution. No responsible Government would suffer indefinitely such illegalities despite warnings. It is sensible for any part so desiring to come to the conference (National Assembly) table to convince the others to allow it to opt out of Nigeria. But such agenda is fraught with difficulties and the attendant challenges may result in frustration and violence and (if the experience of the Ndigbo is anything to go by) any violent secession is likely to suffer the same fate as did Biafra.
In conclusion, the sheer size and diversity of Nigeria and its potential as world power constitutes a worrisome circumstance for the neocolonialist and even intimidates some African countries. Nigeria is today and remains the largest concentration of Blacks in the universe and therefore the hope of our race. We can turn it from the sleeping giant of today to the world power and model God has designed it to be. By o
As late as February 1999 we had the chance to (and in fact some NADECO leaders did) insist on a sovereign National Conference before democratic rule under 1999 Constitution. We opted to forge ahead on present terms which have so far proved workable and wise. There is no guarantee that the SNC is the sure road to more favorable terms of co-existence and there is not much room nor time for profitless experimentation.
The phenomena of ethic and religious violence are not conclusive evidence of incompatibility or constitutional defect. They are the natural incidence of our new found democratic polity and would not go on forever. There is no time to meet and discuss interminably. The urgent need of the day is poverty alleviation, economic development and prevention of military take over. In short good governance is sine qua non to the sustenance of our fledgling democracy. The agitation for SNC is therefore an unnecessary distraction. What is needed is comprehensive constitutional amendment NOT a complete jettisoning of the 1999 Military-Imposed Constitution – a distorted version of the excellent 1979 Constitution. The Presidency and the National Assembly have rightly commenced the amendment Process although rather late. Those great ideas that the SNC protagonists have should be made available to the National Assembly’s Constitutional Amendment Committee. The Presidency has done its part by forwarding the Report of the National Political Reform Conference. Our Freedom of Speech under the 1999 Constitution is wide enough to encompass memoranda that propose the constitutional break-up of Nigeria and it is hoped that those who favor that ideal would not let this opportunity slip by while awaiting the remote possibility of a Sovereign National Conference.
NB: Extract of Author’s Book titled “NO TO SOVEREIGN NATIONAL CONFERENCE”. E-Mail the Author for copies.
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1 Response to "Constitutional Amendment, Not Sovereign National Conference, Is Pathway To A Reformed Polity" 
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said this on 03 Mar 2006 3:18:55 PM EDT
AMENDMENT OF 1999 CONSTITUTION
In spite of the recent controversy on re-view of 1999 constitution.
Based on the urgency, I basically think that the following area listed below should be amended in the constitution for better productivity in our leadership role in this country (Nigeria).
Stated below are:-
- Immunity clause.
- Number of political parties.
- Tenure of political Appointees.
- Work done.
IMMUNITY CLAUSE: - This clause should be removed from Nigeria constitution. Most of our political leader elected by the people and for the people to occupied particular position in government in this country (Nigeria) instead of showing good leadership role, where busy using the clause as an influence for embezzlement of public fund and for money laundry.
Since this clause prohibit political leader occupying any governmental position from be arrested and prosecuted while still in office. I think the time has come for this clause to be removed, to enable our political leader to fully dedicate and discharge their duties, Positively toward the need of this country. This will also discourage them from engaging into any act that can result into impeachment, arrest or any other mischievous behaviors. (Such as money laundry), while still in office.
NUMBER OF POLITICAL PARTIES: - There should be consolidation in the number of political parties in this country. Thereby curtailing the number of parties to either 5 or 10, this will also curtail number of corruption in the country. Such as:
- Influencing INEC officials during electoral processes or after elections.
- Assassination.
- Rituals.
- Religious Ethnicity crisis.
- Other forces to get into power in this country. If this consolidation are made, it will encourage many Nigeria to fully vote for rightful choice, and when right choice are made there will be productivity, development, love in this country.
TENURE OF POLITICAL APPOINTEES:- As contain in the constitution, two term for every four (4) years to be spend by every political elected persons, right from the presidential site down to local state level, should still be maintain, but there should be some few amendment, like After the first tenure (A), He or She occupying such site should step aside for another person (B), To also occupied such site, after the lapses of tenure of such person (B), The latter (A) can now come back, i.e. if He or She is re-elected and accepted by the people, He or She can now come back for the second 2nd tenure. Not when He or She is till on power, and at the same time re-contesting for the same power, if such person is not accepted by the person for that same power, fowl play can come into being for such person to get his pride back into the same power.
The agitation for 4 years of 3 terms into the constitution, I strongly disallow it, such should be eradicated for better leadership. Leadership role is not meant for a particular person or household alone, but let allow different people to partake into such site for better development.
In addition, the presidential site should be rotational within the six 6 geo-political zone of this country (Nigeria).
We have people among this zone who can manage people and resource well for better productivity among this zone, if rotation of presidential site are to be made among the six geopolitical zone, the constitution should be made rigid not flexible, and the tenure should be 5 years single tenure no second tenure that is, if it is rotate among the six geo-political zone.
WORK DONE: - There should be law in the constitution that will govern or control the level of work done by both the federal down to local state level. Any work or project executed by them, if found not completed before or after the lapses of there tenure, the constitution should instruct the in coming government to complete this project so as to eradicate spirit of barring project in our country.
More so, there should be check and balance in our system of government, when such exercise are to be carry out, its should be made public, to ascertain the level of productivity in our system of government.
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