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Changing 1999 Constitution Not Panacea To Nigeria Problems – Agbakoba
- “Part of the problem we face today is the process. Because the process is faulty”
Olisa Agbakoba, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), says there’s nothing that guarantees that a new constitution will be keenly adhered to when citizens brazenly disregard the provisions of the 1999 constitution.
Agbakoba, who spoke at the inaugural #FixPoliticsDialogues, a platform which organises debates on national issues, said changing the 1999 constitution will not make Nigeria an Eldorado or guarantee a perfect country.
The event tagged ‘1999 Constitution: To change or amend?’ was organised by FixPolitics, a non-profit organisation, on Monday.
Agbakoba said the current constitution, despite its flaws and foibles, is not abide by.
The SAN said the process of drafting a new constitution requires strategic engagements.
He said “to force a change of constitution outside the legal framework will be considered a revolution”.
“Let’s not assume that a perfect constitution that we all strive for means that by a flick of the switch everything is good,” he said.
“Currently, the constitution, imperfect as it is, is not obeyed. So what is to say that the constitution we envisage will be obeyed? The answer to it is something we should reflect on carefully.
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He added that part of the problem is that Nigerians didn’t have a say in the drafting of the current constitution.
“Part of the problem we face today is the process. Because the process is faulty, Nigerians cannot claim ownership to the constitution. If there is a way to reverse that problem by overhauling the constitution and bringing in a new one, that, I think, is the ideal.”
Agbakoba said Nigerians and civil society organisations (CSOs) have the option of pushing for either an amendment or a change of the constitution.
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