₦airaland Forum

Agitations for a new Nigeria constitution to pave way for total reform of the country’s ailing and comatose systems have hit a rock.

At the public hearing on the review of the constitution in Abuja on Thursday, the Senate declared that although a completely new constitution to replace the current one was desirable, the extant law and does not support it.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Constitution review, and Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, who made this known, noted that section nine of the constitution had already foreclosed a new constitution.
“Now, some of our compatriots have urged that rather than amending the Constitution, we should make a new Constitution all together. We respect this opinion, and we believe it is a most desirable proposition,” Omo-Agege said.
“However, we are conducting this exercise in accordance with the extant legal order, which is the 1999 Constitution.
“Specifically, Section 9 of the Constitution empowers the National Assembly to alter the provisions of the Constitution and prescribes the manner in which it is to be done. Unfortunately, it does not make similar provision or provide mechanism for replacing or re-writing an entirely new Constitution”
According to Omo-Agege, “To embark on any process without prior alteration of Section 9 of the Constitution to provide the mode through which an entirely new Constitution could be made, would amount to gross violation of our oath of allegiance to the Constitution. In other words, it will take a new Constitutional amendment to be able to give Nigerians a most desired new Constitution. It would be unconstitutional to do otherwise.”
Senior lawyers like Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) had sought a totally new constitution for Nigeria.
The founder of Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Babalola, said the current 1999 constitution can not sufficiently address the socio-economic challenges currently pummeling the nation.
Babalola, who described the 1999 constitution as part of the problems of the country, advised President Muhammadu Buhari to consider the drafting of a new constitution that will capture the agitations of many Nigerians.
The legal luminary said there is a need to empower the different regions to effectively address the challenges of insecurity, unemployment, and poverty in their respective zones.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria expressed regret that the present crop of leaders are only interested in pursuing personal wealth at the deterrent of the system and the citizens.
According to him, “there is a very simple solution to the growing insecurity in the country and that is a new constitution.
“We need a new constitution where the different nations that were formed together can develop at their own pace. West was doing well during the old constitution, likewise the East and even the North but the one we are using now whose leaders see politics as the only lucrative business.
“We don’t need transactional leaders anymore, we want transformational leaders as you can see I am transforming this place.
“In the early years in 1960 people were not earning salaries but allowances and they were doing well but now you see people selling their property to contest election because of money they will get in the office, that is not the ideal thing. The solution is a new constitution for the people. We need people who will serve without earning salaries.”
Alao, speakers at the second Never Again Conference (NAC), which was held virtually in January 2021 had declared that only a new constitution, justice, equity, and obedience to the rule of law could guarantee Nigeria’s unity and stability.
The speakers are, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, Ayo Adebanjo, Mbazulike Amaechi, Peter Obi, Tanko Yakassai, Pat Utomi; Hakeem Baba Ahmed; Shehu Sani; Onyeka Onwenu; Godknows Igali; Ahmed Joda, Prof. Ladi Hamalai, Charity Shekari and Ankkio Briggs.

Not surprised coming from a rubber stamp senate

Fahdiga1:
Not surprised coming from a rubber stamp senate

The rubber stamp Senate that we the people rubber stamped by electing the Senators who fill it and rubber stamp.

Hopefully, we will remember at the next election and rubber stamp a Senate that does not just stamp rubber

Exactly what we are expecting from them. They never cease to amaze us

Do we expect them to change what's working for them?

This fellows don't care about the constitution, all they care about is their bogus pay and allowances.

Reduce their salary to minimum wage standard and watch them resign. It's all about the money

Oppressors will do everything to maintain the status quo. Nigerian masses suffering and smiling continues

This useless rubberstamp senate being led by the overfed buffons? They will regulate check and balance on the executive or protect Nigeria from executive impunity, rascality and lawlessness

The Constitution favours the north and the Senate's and the elites.

You will have to be foolish to think that they will sanction a new Constitution.

By the way, we don't need any Constitution. We want out!

budaatum:
The rubber stamp Senate that we the people rubber stamped by electing the Senators who fill it and rubber stamp.

Hopefully, we will remember at the next election and rubber stamp a Senate that does not just stamp rubber

At times it is not the masses that vote for this theives, they rigged themselves in

The law is made for the people, not the people for the law. If the people want a new law, then throw away the old one and give them what they want. Stop quoting the one that has already failed them as if the failed law now owns them and not them that own the law.

Necessary Logical Misinterpretation. The OATHS we all swore to in the 1999 DECREE 24 MARSHALL OFFER IS IN THE FIRST PLACE NULL AND VOID

BECAUSE THAT DECREE 24 WAS OFFERED TO NIGERIA WITHOUT CONSIDERATION AND ACCEPTANCE

AND NIGERIA, LIKE ROBOTS STARTED SWEARING TO IT AND USING IT TO ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES.

SECTION 9 OF DECREE 24 CALLED CONSTITUTION, DOESN'T PRECLUDE THE NASS AND THE CONSTITUTIONAL STATES FROM

1,. SCRAPING THE EXCLUSIVE LIST THERE IN AND LIMITING FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES TO FOREIGN AFFAIRS, MILITARY ON EQUALITY OF STATES BASIS, AND TREATIES SEALING ONLY.

2, PROVIDING FOR CONSTITUTIONAL STATES TO CONTRIBUTE UNIFORMLY 10% OF THEIR REVENUE EARNINGS TO RUNNING FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

3, INCREASING THE 36 CONSTITUTIONAL STATES TO 42

4, AND DOING ALL OF THE ABOVE ACCORDING TO SECTION 9 OF THE DECREE 24.

5,. SECTION 9 IS A CONDITIONALITY FOR THE OFFER, CONSIDERATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF A NEW CONSTITUTION

6,. SO PLEASE CONSIDER DECREE 24, AMEMD IT AS SUGGESTED ABOVE INCLUDING INCREASING THE 36 CONSTITUTIONAL STATES TO 42 AND IN THE SAME PROCESS ACCEPTING THE DOCUMENT AS SUITABLE FOR A PRESIDENTIAL DEMOCRACY.

From Orunto27.

budaatum:
The rubber stamp Senate that we the people rubber stamped by electing the Senators who fill it and rubber stamp.

Hopefully, we will remember at the next election and rubber stamp a Senate that does not just stamp rubber

Next election you say.

So you can still imagine yourself sharing the same country with Fulani people?

I would rather beg for a Haitian citizenship than being in the same country with Fulanis.

Necessary Logical Misinterpretation. The OATHS we all swore to in the 1999 DECREE 24 MARSHALL OFFER IS IN THE FIRST PLACE NULL AND VOID

BECAUSE THAT DECREE 24 WAS OFFERED TO NIGERIA WITHOUT CONSIDERATION AND ACCEPTANCE

AND NIGERIA, LIKE ROBOTS STARTED SWEARING TO IT AND USING IT TO ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES. YOU CAN'T USE WHAT YOU DON'T OWN.

SECTION 9 OF DECREE 24 CALLED CONSTITUTION, DOESN'T PRECLUDE THE NASS AND THE CONSTITUTIONAL STATES FROM

1,. SCRAPING THE EXCLUSIVE LIST THERE IN AND LIMITING FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES TO FOREIGN AFFAIRS, MILITARY ON EQUALITY OF STATES BASIS, AND TREATIES SEALING ONLY.

2, PROVIDING FOR CONSTITUTIONAL STATES TO CONTRIBUTE UNIFORMLY 10% OF THEIR REVENUE EARNINGS TO RUNNING FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

3, INCREASING THE 36 CONSTITUTIONAL STATES TO 42

4, AND DOING ALL OF THE ABOVE ACCORDING TO SECTION 9 OF THE DECREE 24.

5,. SECTION 9 IS A CONDITIONALITY FOR THE OFFER, CONSIDERATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF A NEW CONSTITUTION

6,. SO PLEASE CONSIDER DECREE 24, AMEMD IT AS SUGGESTED ABOVE INCLUDING INCREASING THE 36 CONSTITUTIONAL STATES TO 42 AND IN THE SAME PROCESS ACCEPTING THE DOCUMENT AS SUITABLE FOR A PRESIDENTIAL DEMOCRACY.

From Orunto27.

SECTION 9 OF DECREE 24 CAN BE AMENDED ANYHOW TO MAKE IT PRACTICABLE FOR A DEMOCRACY. THE LAW IS MADE FOR MAN AND NOT MAN FOR THE LAW.

Sincinnati:
Next election you say.

So you can still imagine yourself sharing the same country with Fulani people?

I would rather beg for a Haitian citizenship than being in the same country with Fulanis.

Fulani is not my problem. Currently, my Ifon Osun is literally at war with Ilobu and Erin Osun. We are all Yoruba killing ourselves over land, and those of us who will not be dead will still be sharing the same Osun State at the next election.

orisa37:
Necessary Logical Misinterpretation. The OATHS we all swore to in the 1999 DECREE 24 MARSHALL OFFER IS IN THE FIRST PLACE NULL AND VOID

BECAUSE THAT DECREE 24 WAS OFFERED TO NIGERIA WITHOUT CONSIDERATION AND ACCEPTANCE

AND NIGERIA, LIKE ROBOTS STARTED SWEARING TO IT AND USING IT TO ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES. YOU CAN'T USE WHAT YOU DON'T OWN.

SECTION 9 OF DECREE 24 CALLED CONSTITUTION, DOESN'T PRECLUDE THE NASS AND THE CONSTITUTIONAL STATES FROM

1,. SCRAPING THE EXCLUSIVE LIST THERE IN AND LIMITING FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES TO FOREIGN AFFAIRS, MILITARY ON EQUALITY OF STATES BASIS, AND TREATIES SEALING ONLY.

2, PROVIDING FOR CONSTITUTIONAL STATES TO CONTRIBUTE UNIFORMLY 10% OF THEIR REVENUE EARNINGS TO RUNNING FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

3, INCREASING THE 36 CONSTITUTIONAL STATES TO 42

4, AND DOING ALL OF THE ABOVE ACCORDING TO SECTION 9 OF THE DECREE 24.

5,. SECTION 9 IS A CONDITIONALITY FOR THE OFFER, CONSIDERATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF A NEW CONSTITUTION

6,. SO PLEASE CONSIDER DECREE 24, AMEMD IT AS SUGGESTED ABOVE INCLUDING INCREASING THE 36 CONSTITUTIONAL STATES TO 42 AND IN THE SAME PROCESS ACCEPTING THE DOCUMENT AS SUITABLE FOR A PRESIDENTIAL DEMOCRACY.

From Orunto27.

SECTION 9 OF DECREE 24 CAN BE AMENDED ANYHOW TO MAKE IT PRACTICABLE FOR A DEMOCRACY. THE LAW IS MADE FOR MAN AND NOT MAN FOR THE LAW.

RESUBMIT TO NASS STATES LEGISLATURES AND STATE GOVERNORS.