₦airaland Forum

budaatum:
Neither constitution worked for us as we well know. If they had worked we would not have resorted to a war to resolve our differences.

But that's not quite the point. Asking us to return to some romanticised colonialism is dangerous. Anyone who knows about colonialism would understand how enslaving it is, and even if you were too young to understand what Nigeria was like under the British, you should at least know how bad South Africa's Apartheid was.

Or perhaps that's me being assumptive of your knowledge. Heres some reading to help you.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apartheid?wprov=sfla1

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bantu_Education_Act

The British were much more subtle but no different, as far as their rule in Africa was concerned. Those who've studied Europe would tell you that while they were telling you to believe the Bible so you can be ignorant compliable Adams, they themselves were plucking the fruits of the Trees of Scientific Knowledge and turning themselves into sense using free Eves.

joyandfaith:
Constitution of canada is similar to our 1960 Constitution. British monarch is still head of government with governor-general representing the crown.

joyandfaith:
Colonialism does not equate to slavery. Nigerians decided to be enslaved instead of doing real business with Britain. Traditional rulers sold their people to slavery because of mirrors and gins.

budaatum:
Do you even know when Canada got its independence?

We did not want the British Monarch to rule us anymore is the point! If the British monarchy had treated Nigeria how they treated Canada, we likely would not have minded. Or do you seriously think we Nigerians are completely devoid of a brain?

Note how I'm peppering my post with the Colonisation of Adam and Eve. Nigeria's agitation for independence was a result of us eating the fruits of knowledge that they had hidden from us, and when our eyes did open, we refused to remain enslaved.

If you have a Bible, go read how pissed off the Coloniser of Adam and Eve was when he lost his free labour. It might help you understand Britains complicity in the destruction of our nation and also explain to you what must be done to fix it instead of begging to return to slavery in Eden.

budaatum:
Do you even know when Canada got its independence?

We did not want the British Monarch to rule us anymore is the point! If the British monarchy had treated Nigeria how they treated Canada, we likely would not have minded. Or do you seriously think we Nigerians are completely devoid of a brain?

Note how I'm peppering my post with the Colonisation of Adam and Eve. Nigeria's agitation for independence was a result of us eating the fruits of knowledge that they had hidden from us, and when our eyes did open, we refused to remain enslaved.

If you have a Bible, go read how pissed off the Coloniser of Adam and Eve was when he lost his free labour. It might help you understand Britains complicity in the destruction of our nation and also explain to you what must be done to fix it instead of begging to return to slavery in Eden.

BlackyOne:
And I'm sure you know the percentage of the population earning 2m monthly, even at that what difference would it make in the quality of life that is obtainable when the Naira is steadily losing value, inflation going up in monstrous percentage, insecurity at its very peak, unemployment doing great numbers! Sometimes I really wonder the statistics some of you derive in praising the way the country is heading

joyandfaith:
British monarch is still head of Canadian government. What does that tell you?

Thus, within Canada's constitutional monarchy the sovereign's direct participation in any of these areas of governance is normally limited, with the sovereign typically exercising executive authority only with the advice and consent of the Cabinet of Canada, and the sovereign's legislative and judicial responsibilities largely carried out through the Parliament of Canada as well as judges and justices of the peace.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Canada?wprov=sfla1

joyandfaith:
Black men destroyed fellow blacks and the continent. Britain had many colonies. Why is that slavery was more re rampant in Africa yhan than other british colonies? Blame Africa leaders who had no business skills.

joyandfaith:
I remember invasion 1897 in benin.

budaatum:
That she is a figurative head with even much less power than she has in the United Kingdom where she is the undisputed Queen.

budaatum:
That does not make the British saints anyhow you wish to see it, and returning to their governorship is a ship that has long sailed.

Just think a little. Do Kanu and Igboho not sound like those who agitated for decolonialisation from Britain and for self rule? Do you think they'd like to free themselves from what they perceive as their current master only to serve another?

joyandfaith:
Canadian version of Nigeria 1960 constitution. Canada is still using their own. We discarded our own due to myopic reasons

“The time has come to fully leave our colonial past behind,” Barbados Governor General Sandra Mason said in a speech on behalf of Prime Minister Mia Mottley, which announced the country’s decision to remove the Queen. “Barbadians want a Barbadian Head of State. This is the ultimate statement of confidence in who we are and what we are capable of achieving.”
https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2020/09/16/as-barbados-drops-queen-elizabeth-ii-heres-where-else-the-monarch-is-head-of-state/

budaatum:
I asked you when Canada gained independence and have not seen you respond yet. It might make you realise the difference between Canada and Nigeria.

What saddens me is while some smaller nations are growing in confidence in themselves, some Nigerians want to return to sucking their mothers breast at the old ripe age of 60+.

budaatum:
Please! If you earn that much, I'm very certain you'd be able to afford a Nigerian existence where those things you listed would affect you a lot less than if you were on minimum wage.

As for your "some of you derive in praising the way the country is heading", please pay attention.

First. Currently, we Nigerians are steering our country in the direction it is going. We do not elect our leaders frim Mars or Britain, but from amongst our selves.

Second. I am Nigeria. And if I do not like the way my Nigeria is heading, I should get the fuq off my lazy ass and become responsible for my steering my Nigeria in the way that I want my Nigeria to go instead of sitting on my lazy ass wailing and blaming others for steering my Nigeria where I would rather it did not go, because if it goes where I'd rather it did not go, it is Nigeria me who suffers. Democracy gives me the power to be responsible for my own karna, while colonialism and military rule takes that power from us!

Now, you might want to claim that you are not the Nigeria that I claim to be, or that you are not responsible for how Nigeria is, but I would put it to you that if you are not building up our nation, you are part of the destroyers of our nation.

Ref: https://www.nairaland.com/6431743/nairaland-democratic-party

joyandfaith:
Restructuring

BlackyOne:
I'm sure the children in the link below are not doing anything to make Nigeria the way they want too
https://www.nairaland.com/6827834/video-pupils-singing-national-anthem

joyandfaith:
The same queen signed constitution act of Canada in 1982, many years after our independent.

budaatum:
She signs the same sort of thing at the beginning of every UK parliament. She even comes to the House of Lords to inform parliament and the nation what "my government", she calls it, intend to do in each session. But she is pretty much powerless in UK and much more powerless in Canada.

I suggest you read up on the 1649 beheading of Charles I of England. You might begin to understand how powerless the monarchy actually is.

budaatum:
As in, write a new constitution? One that respects true colonialism? With no insult intended, you are now using your brain.

So long as it - the constitution I mean, and not your brain - does not involve a return to colonialism, which by the way is impossible.

However, our current constitution actually gives us what we want. States are contesting the federal governments right to keep the Vat it generates, for instance, and it wouldn't be long before cases appear in court requesting the right for states to keep its own natural resource.

It's why I'm delighted Court Freezes Account Of Benue State Government. Its federalism in action, and more states will soon follow, including, sadly, my own ill-run State of Osun. It will teach us to better manage our affairs however, starting with making us more conscientious in choosing those we give the responsibility of their management to.

joyandfaith:
So nothing is wrong with 1960 constitution who made the crown ceremonial head of government and governor- general the representative of the King.
We should go back to 1960 constitution through restructuring. It is unserious nation that changes constitution frequently. Most of Commonwealth nations are still using their constitution since independence.

obehi247:
with what you have written, go and ask your elders if life then and standard of living was better to what we have today or better still, read your history books and relate to me, maybe i would then apologize to you personally

budaatum:
Nigeria has said it is wrong for them, obviously, which is why is has been abandoned like almost 60 years ago!

The Monarch of England can not ever rule Nigeria again.

joyandfaith:
Go and read 'imperatives of Nigerian revolution 'by Barr Farotimi. With present constitution, we are prosponing days of evils. Other Commonwealth nations are still progressing with their 'colonial' constitution.

Tinubuadvocate:
Stop arguing the op is saying the facts. Because you are not witnessed the policy of political assimilation of whites doesn't justify your ignorance.

budaatum:
We are not, "Other Commonwealth nations", and if what Barr Farotimi wrote is true, he has already provided us with a reason to address the supposed "days of evils" so we don't go rushing blindly into them I would have thought, after all, no constitution is so perfectly written in stone as to be unamendable.

The question here is what we amend to, and we can't be ruled by Britain ever again. And besides, whatever constitution we may have will end up in days of evil if not properly implemented.

Here's a task for you so you can see how badly we implement our current constitution.

The local authority of the London Borough of Lewisham, which is the equivalent of local government in Nigeria, has a website where agendas and minutes of council committees are published. Check it out and then compare it to the publications of our senate and house of reps on their website. Nothing shows better how inept we really are and how far we need to go to get things right.

We must strive more, I say, and not delegate our duty and responsibility to Britain.

joyandfaith:
Even if we don't have British monarch to rule us by proxy, principles of 1960 constitution is still best for us. All constitutions from 1963 till date have not helped us. The only reason why 1960 constitution was abandoned was hatred for British crown. We should resist that constitution and adapt to modern reality. It is best for us.

budaatum:
It's not just hatred for British Crown, Joy, but a lack of love for our own progress, which is a result of our ignorance.

Obasanjo, whom I can not stand, was talking about parliamentary style of governance and said, "how can the opposition and the government be ruling together?" In his eyes, opposition meant enemy, which shows how our mentality shapes our constitution instead of our constitution shaping us. You just need imagine Buhari as president, and say Jonathan as prime minister or vice versa. The only way they could possibly get along and rule is if they've agreed to loot the nation dry, and even then they are likely to fight over who gets what.

That was the predicament we found with Azikiwe and Balewa. They themselves might not have been fighting but their supporters sure did.

The 1960 Constitution is based on the English form of Government, which is based on historical practice and traditions, which we do not have and never had the opportunity to cultivate because of our constant chopping and changing of constitution. You might be surprised that United Kingdom does not even have one.

joyandfaith:
Your ancestors had similar feelings when out of sentiments demanded for independence and in 1963 worked for new constitution. 1963 constitution increased cost of governance. Crisis that erupted in implementation of 1963 constitution lead to coup and later civil war.if we did not change the 1960 constitution, Nigeria would have been stable by now. Other Commonwealth nations are enjoying what we lost as a nation.

joyandfaith:
Present constitution is faulty. It cannot work.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/10/lets-have-1960-or-1963-constitution-before-2023-elections-afe-babalola/

Tinubuadvocate:
Nigeria was a better place and every leaders of the world want to associate with Nigeria till early 1980 . Meanwhile throughout the years of British government in Nigeria they didn't construct single a single bridge not to talk of road. It was after the independence that Nigeria were able to start something and Nigeria currency became most strongest currency in the world.

However the review of 1963 constitution in 1979 was a total disaster for the whole country as if this not enough they revisited the constitution again in 1999. Do you want to hear the truth Nigeria can't get better as long as we continue operating 1999 constitution and nobody can make Nigeria great .

budaatum:
The key statement from your link is the following and it's right at the top:

"The military believes in central control, and that is the problem of Buhari himself"

When the Fourth Republic of Nigeria began its current democratic dispensation, I said that Nigeria is in for at least 20 years of rule by military. It seems I was out by perhaps 4 years, and that's because of Civilian Ebele. Still, I think I might have been conservative, because the military mentality runs a lot deeper than I thought it did, though Buhari has not been as militant as I thought he might have been. If he had been, 200 year jail terms without trial would be the norm for any corrupt person found.

There's a well known institution of people in Nigeria with a constitution that clearly states that "thou shalt not steal", and "thou shalt not bear false witness" etc, but I'm certain you are aware that many members of the institution would steal and pay a thing called tithes and be blessed by the presidents of these institutions for so doing.

My point is, a constitution is just a piece of paper with words on it that need to be interpreted by human beings. And gradually, we are learning. This is seen by how we are now challenging aspects of our constitution in a courts of law. By so doing, precedents are being set upon which we could build on, and sections of it would be amended for legal reasons. Rivers State for instance is challenging to keep the Vat it collects.

Starting all over again sounds like you think we'd now have, if not perfect, a more fit for purpose constitution, but since it will be interpreted by we humans, and take years, I can't help feel you and Afe delude yourselves, especially regarding the before the 2023 election date.

obehi247:
Despite the policy of exploitation by the british colonial government in Nigeria, the Nigeria economy was very strong and the Nigeria currency have a very strong purchasing power.

During the colonial government, the little institution that was established was up and doing with no form of corruption record.

The police and the army were very professional and incomparable with the rubbish we have today.

When the self imposed nationalist that are the reason we as Nigeria are prisoners and slaves in our very country wanted independent from the british, the colonial government gave it to us without bloodshed.

In the colonial government, Nigeria citizens were not killed on a daily basis, the Nigeria people love themselves and even their neighboring countries as far to south africa.

Colonial government is by far incomparable and better than the indigenous people government of Nigeria.

Nigerians please let fight for the 1960 constitution, the independent constitution to be adopted in Nigeria today to stop and eradicate corrupt.

In the 1960 constitution, the indigenous people have the government but the head of state and the supreme court is in UK.

What this means is that, once a case of corrupt and public embezzlement is swept under the carpet in Nigeria, the UK government can still investigate and jail the people involved.

It is better to associate with a stepfather that want your progress than a father that wants your downfall.

Even till this very moment, the uk government is still helping the Nigeria state financially and policy wise.

let's think of the glory we will achieve under the british government than the suffering with the Nigeria government.

If the endsars protest could not change the indigenous people style of government, then the 1960 constitution would help up achieve greatness

Let think of good and quality infrastructure, education, security, policing, professionalism, and a great future for our generation yet unborn, let's think of the 1960 independent constitution

BringBackTheIndependentConstitution