http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/30249-nigerias-constitution-a-fraud-fashola
Written by Shola Adekola, Lagos Wednesday, 26 October 2011

LAGOS State governor,  Mr  Babatunde Fashola, has condemned the constitution of Nigeria, describing it as fraud.

Speaking at the presidential wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday, on arrival from Abuja, Fashola said the only way the impact of the local government areas in the country could be felt by the people was for the constitution to be amended in their favour.

The governor described a situation whereby the Federal Government took the lion’s share of the  revenue allocation as unrealistic, adding that both the states and the local governments were left to share a paltry 48 per cent, which, he said, was inadequate to take care of the challenges at the state level.

He said if the government at the federal level was working assiduously with all the resources at its disposal, the agony Nigerians were allegedly experiencing would have been minimal, while challenging journalists to carry out independent analysis on the pulse of the people on the activities of the Federal Government over the years.

He insisted that it would be difficult for the local governments to carry out their statutory functions of free health and free education at the primary school level, adding that they had been left with payment of salaries alone.

“Now, which is the government that is closest and most impactful to the people? But sadly, it is the government that has the least revenue,” he said.

Fashola said the appropriation law prescribed about N240 billion for 2011 for subsidies, adding that as of September, the country had exceeded the approved amount by an additional N1.2 trillion.

The Nigerian constitution is a forgery - MNN

The Constitution started with "We the people hereby agree"


some transcribed points from the video below:

But We did not agree to give The President and 36 Governors immunity

We the people couldn't have agreed to give the key of the treasury to the executive branch

Nigeria has become a criminal enterprise where few people are using a forged document to rule 150Million people

We cannot be united by fraud and forgery

Nigerians have been calling for a Sovereign national conference but those who have secured themselves in Abuja have refused to listen

Who created the 36 states? Few Military elites!

Who created the 68 item exclusive lists in the Constitution that prevented a state like Lagos from generating her own electricity, do her own rail and manage her own sea port?

Less that 1% of the country's population has 90% of the assets of the country and you cannot break in, you are locked out!

Somebody will sit in Abuja and say he's (IG) Inspector General of Police for a state like Imo, how is that sensible? how will he know how things work locally in Mushin?

We cannot be bound by force for all times!



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjuEaKTpZ4g[

[flash=490,380]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjuEaKTpZ4g[/flash]

^^

You need to watch that video.

Less that 1% of the country's population has 90% of the assets of the country and you cannot break in, you are locked out!

Somebody will sit in Abuja and say he's (IG) Inspector General of Police for a state like Imo, how is that sensible? how will he know how things work locally in Mushin?

We cannot be bound by force for all times!

PointB:

A much immediate fraud is Fashola paying Tinubu N2 billion naira of tax payers money every month. Think of how many medical centres that can be upgraded with that that amount. Just imagine!

Beaf:

We all know that the Nigerian constitution is a fraud, but there are chasms of a fundamental nature to be crossed before the parties reach a concensus. In fact several fraudulent concepts of "true federalism" have been flying around, at least one of these has been backed by Fashola himself in the past, so we need to be careful when analysing his statement. We must be on guard that the concept of true federalism is not hijacked and bastardised by politicians; it is the last hope for Nigeria and the man on the street.

True federalism in its unadulterated form, would give the states and LGA's a great degree of legal and financial autonomy, such that local cultures, beliefs and practices are preserved on the one hand. One the other, it would ensure that every federating unit becomes self sustaining, with the LGA's being the primary generators of wealth and providing govt that is truly close to the people.
In the above scenario, the LGA's would pay taxes to the states and the states would pay taxes to the FG.

Now here is the catch in Fashola's former position (which he seems to have either shifted from or is expressing a willingness to shift from); he and his party have termed true federalism to be not much more than the FG giving the states more money. In other words, the FG would become even stronger as it weilds bigger purse strings (payments to states and LG's is entirely at the FG's whim, it isn't detailed in the constitution). That position quickly got support from governors across the board, because it is an even shorter cut to corruption than what exists today.

I am impressed that Fashola mentioned empowering the LG's with more money, because that represents a meeting of of minds with GEJ's stance that he would only alter the revenue sharing formula for the benefit of LGA's. In other words, less money will go to the FG, less will go to the states, but much more will go to the LGA's.
It is easy to see how this approach would stymie corruption; there will be no more any massive ammounts of money in any centralised location for politicians to steal and more importantly, the LGA boss will be a local person; you know where they live and who their kids are, if they don't perform, you simply take petrol and matches and burn down their house (which would be just down the street). 

Kilode?!:

Beaf, Yes. But I don't think we need to fix revenue sharing sef, we just need to "troway the nonsense" for ocean.

What we need is revenue contribution, let each Federating units (whichever way we agree to constitute them) take charge of their revenue receipts -yes including oil. Then contribute to the center based on agreed-to terms( for national welfare and defense)

Cities, LG and to a small extent, States, should be the first point of revenue collection. We are all being duped right now.

Anyway, like Gbawe said, ideas are not the issue, dem plenty. The issue is political will to do the right thing. That one scarce die.  

Gbawe:

The main problem we face is not lack of ideas on how to amend the constitution and make it vastly better and more efficient at addressing the current challenges Nigeria face. The main problem is highlighted in bold above i.e[b] less than 1% of Nigerians control 90% of the asset of the Nation. [/b]That balance means that ordinary Nigerians , unless they wake up to their civic empowerment, simply don't have the money or influential position with which to change the status quo. Let us not forget that many of the less than 1% fashola mentioned are happy for things to stay as they are. look at how skillfully they have now relegated the PIB to the back burner despite telling us , as an election carrot, that the bill will be passed before the expiration of the last Republic. If Nigerians don't force them to pass the PIB , in a potent form, then most are perfectly happy for "business as usual" to continue.

Beaf:

The political will is far from lacking, but the fightback of the enemies of the nation is sophisticated and concerted.  

ibide:

Let him keep his dirty mount short like my silly  , cryzy & and mad governor of my state delta state why is't that they will only make noise whenever federal didot thier money  visionless political criminals ,animals fooss

manny4life:

I do NOT in anyway support that the Nigerian Constitution is "Fraud"; however, I should say it's FLAWED to a great extent --- from its beginning to its end. I do not support Fashola's view, I believe in true federalism. Every state should contribute to the FG based upon their resource / revenue. Powers should be delegated to states to decide what to do and how to deal with jurisdictions within their states. I do also believe that the FG should allocate money to states (not municipalities like LG) a single line items to assist them rather than an obligation. States should reserve the rights to make majority of decisions that affect the people.