…Kicks against planned NASS review of 1999 constitution
By Ezeocha Nzeh
The Northern Elders Forum (NEF), has Advocated a conference of Nigerian elders, government and stakeholders to discuss the structure of the nations further co existence, rather than the call by the National assembly for memoranda on its planned move to review and amend some provisions of the 1999 constitution.
The Elders, regretted that federal lawmakers have since 1999, continued to spend huge amounts of Nigerian people’s money to fund the constitution review process without any meaningful impact on the lives of the people
The Forum therefore urged the National Assembly to direct its energy and mandate towards convincing President Muhammadu Buhari to bring an end to the insurgency in the North East and killings in most parts of the country.
NEF Director of Publicity, Hakeem Baba – Ahmed, at a press briefing, Sunday in AbujaThe Northern Elders spoke at a press briefing NEF’s Director of Publicity, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, in Abuja on Sunday, noted that the NASS efforts have never yielded any dividend in the past, saying it is a predictable waste of time, resources and energy of the nation, and should not be supported by Nigerians.
The Senate ad-Hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) had invited the public to within two weeks, submit Memorandum to assist the “further alteration of the provisions of the Constitution (as amended)”.
“Nothing fundamental or of any value has come out of these grand schemes to exploit our collective desire to address our political and economic fundamentals. This National Assembly is also following suit, and it should not be encouraged on this path.
NEF maintained that Nigeria’s future rests largely on its willingness to address major constraints to equity and justice, a functional structure, consistent good governance, security for all citizens, a credible electoral process, growing understanding between and among all groups and an economy that grows and narrows inequalities between and classes and regions.
The forum warned that national goals cannot be achieved by a process that it described as a “wasteful expenditure around false hopes.”
“Even this is not likely to produce a genuine effort to address the basic requirements of securing a stable, secure and prosperous Nigeria, because both arms of this administration are unlikely to accept to put through wide-ranging reviews of the Constitution.
“The Forum specifically reminds legislators and other leaders from the North that security of our communities, reduction of crushing poverty and widening distrust among communities should be their priorities.
“The Northern Elders Forum recommends the alternative of leaders of thought, elders, groups and professional organizations and representatives of government to freely discuss every element of our co-existence as a country under principles of voluntarism, genuine representation mutual respect and integrity of the process.
“A Nigerian Peoples’ Conference on Review of the Constitution will benefit from past work in this direction in addition to contemporary challenges which the country needs to address in a context that allows free and productive engagements without pre-determined ends.
“The outcome of this Conference should be submitted to the two arms of government which should provide for a referendum in the Constitution so that Nigerians can directly decide on how they want their nation to be structured and function.
“The North is willing to discuss other options that will do justice to the current Constitution and the future of our great country.
“The Forum invites attention of particularly northern groups to be wary of being railroaded into making submissions which the legislature will hold up as input, further justifying waste and deceit.
“No northern group should encourage further waste of public funds which should be channelled into battling killers, kidnappers, poverty and poor governance.
“The North wants a major review of the Constitution, but it is also ready to resist attempts to create wealth for a few while it leaves parts of the country to quarrel and blame each other for the state of the nation.
“Northerners are willing to discuss current challenges of the region and the state of the country with any group, anywhere, provided it sees evidence of sincerity and respect for each other.
“We advise the National Assembly to direct its energy and mandate towards convincing President Muhammadu Buhari to bring an end to the insurgency in the North East and killings in most parts of North Central and North West and other parts of the country.
“We advise the Senate to jettison the wasteful idea of giving Nigerians the impression that it is involved in a serious review of our Constitution.”
