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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says Nigeria needs the right operators of the constitution, not a perfect one, to lead in good governance and promote the welfare and well-being of the citizenry
Obasanjo stated this at the opening of a three-day National Summit on the Future of Nigeria’s Constitutional Democracy, organised by The Patriots, in collaboration with Nigeria Political Summit Group, on Wednesday in Abuja.
In his remarks read by the secretary-general of the Eminent Patriots, Olawale Okunniyi, the former president said that while a nation’s constitution must reflect the history, the constituents and the aspirations of its people, “no constitution is perfect.”
He, however, said the operators played a key role in the implementation and promotion of the well-being of the citizens.
“From my experience in operating our constitution, I will be the first to point out some areas of our constitution that need amendment. However, for me, no constitution can ever be regarded as perfect.
“But whatever the strength or weakness of a constitution, the most important issue, to my own understanding and experience, is the operators of the constitution,” Obasanjo said.
He noted that the best constitution can also be distorted by operators, as is done in Africa, including Nigeria.
“I am more concerned about the operators of the constitution to lead in good governance and promotion of welfare and well-being of the citizenry.
“No matter what you do to the Nigerian constitution, if the operators of the constitution, for the past one decade and a half, remain unchanged and continue in the same manner, the welfare and well-being of Nigerians will continue to be sacrificed on the altar of selfishness.
“It will continue to be sacrificed on the altar of self-centeredness, corruption, impunity and total disregard of the constitution, decency, morality, integrity and honesty,’’ he said.
Mr Obasanjo said that at this crucial time, the operators mattered more and that the searchlight should be on them.
A former governor of Akwa Ibom, Victor Attah, in his remarks, also read by Mr Okunniyi, stated that the 1999 Constitution was not a people’s constitution.
Mr Attah described the 1999 constitution as a military decree imposed without the people’s consent.
According to him, Nigeria’s democracy is not working and the people’s trust in the government has also declined.
He said this was due to the country’s departure from a functional federal system to an imperial, presidential, unitary system of government.
“True federalism must guarantee maximum autonomy to the federating units. Cost of politics must be brought down to open space for inclusiveness and real leadership.
“Unicameral legislature with ministers appointed only from elected representatives,” he said.
Mr Attah advised Nigerians to take advantage of the summit to address contending issues, saying, “We must not be afraid to change, rather be afraid not to change.”
On his part, Senator Gbenga Daniel, the co-chairman of the Organising Committee of the summit, described the occasion as a significant step in Nigeria’s journey toward unity, progress and national development.
“We are here because the existing structure, established by the 1999 Constitution, has consistently proven inadequate in effectively addressing the core issues related to governance, equity, inclusion and national cohesion.
“Our agenda for the coming days is ambitious but aims to be straightforward and focused,” he said.
The former Ogun governor said the summit would scrutinise vital themes, including the organisation and structure of the Nigerian federation, the role and functioning of local governments, traditional institutions and resource control and fiscal federalism.
He said it would also look at electoral and judicial reforms, security concerns nationwide, and citizenship rights and responsibilities in a 21st-century democracy.
