.…Says Nigeria Cannot Develop With 1999 Military Constitution

Eminent Nigerians gathered on Thursday June 12 to recommend a national summit with representatives from the six geo-political zones to prepare a new constitution for the country.

They came together under the aegis of ‘The Patriots’ and ‘The Democrats’ in Lagos and suggested that there should be a discussion on how to move the country ahead with a new constitution.

“It’s time to leave the blame game and the unprogressive situation in the country and find a lasting solution with a view of adopting a new constitution and leaving behind the adopted ‘Military Constitution’ known as the 1999 Constitution, which many have described as the bane of the country,” they said.

They stated this at the annual June 12 Democracy Day national dialogue with the theme: “Democracy Without A Democracy Constitution: Which Way for Nigeria.”

The Chairman of the occasion, a former Minister of Finance, Dr Kalu Idika Kalu stated that the Abiola and his wife, Alhaja Kudirat, must be compensated for the sacrifices they made.

It is recalled that Alhaja Kudirat Abiola was gruesomely murdered on June 4, 1996 allegedly by agents of the then military government, while Chief MKO Abiola died in detention.

Dr Idika then urged the government to do the needful by compensating Abiola family for the loss of their bread winners.

Also speaking, Chairman of the Planning Committee, Professor Anthony Kila, described June 12, 1993 as bigger than May 29 and October 1, while saying that it was the day all Nigerians stood for what they wanted.

He stressed that the essence of the June 12 gathering is to reflect and take inspiration from the day, which he said is arguably the source of the republic, saying that it’s a time that calls for personal sacrifice and collective resolve and national vision of the future.

According to Professor Kila, June 12 was a time, when the whole country united, saying that “Abiola was the person we wanted, we must therefore commend those who stood up for something and take inspiration from them.”

The Chairman of the Planning Committee was grateful to former president Muhammadu Buhari, who recognized June 12 as Democracy Day.

“The next step on June 12 is for us to have peoples’ constitution and that’s where we need to go now, reason ‘The Patriot’ is leading the charge through a summit,” he said.

Chairman of the Northeast Mobilisation and Advocacy Committee of The Patriots for the National Summit, Prof. Maxwell Gidado, SAN, called for the amendment of the 1999 constitution for the country to get out of its current mess.

Prof Gidado further said; “The 1999 Constitution was put together in two weeks by Gen Abdulsallam Abubakar-led military government with only one woman among the 25 wise men that drafted the 1999 constitution.

“If there was a good representation of women on the drafting committee of the Abdulsallam Abubakar constitution, led by Justice Nikki Tobi, they would have rejected it. There is nothing federal in the 1999 constitution, it is unitary in nature,” Prof Gidado added.

Speaking on the essence of the gathering, the Secretary General of The Patriot, Comrade Olawale Okunniyi emphasized the need for people-oriented constitution, noting that without it there can’t be any democracy in the country.

Okunniyi stressed the need for advocacy and “momentum to have peoples oriented constitution different from the 1999 military constitution, which is currently in use in the country.”

He noted that efforts must be made to change the constitution democratically and make sure that the government has something to work with that can prosper governance.

He encouraged President Bola Tinubu to stand and declare a state of emergency in Nigeria, particularly on the 1999 Constitution.

The group later proceeded to the grave site of the late Chief MKO Abiola to offer prayers and laid wreath as it is customarily done every year.

Eminent Nigerians gathered on Thursday June 12 to recommend a national summit with representatives from the six geo-political zones to prepare a new constitution for the.