Major socio-political organisations in Nigeria have demanded what they described as a “new people-oriented federal constitution” before the 2023 general elections, saying the 1999 constitution does not represent the interest of the masses.
They also
unanimously agreed that the new constitution should provide for a “true
federalism that heralds a restructured Nigeria,” while the 2023 Presidency
should be zoned to the South.
These were
the highlights of a communiqué issued at the end of the Nigeria’s 2023
Presidential Transition Inter-Ethnic Peace Dialogue, with the theme,
‘Restructuring and 2023 Power Shift: Nigeria’s make or break factor for
political survival.”
The event
which was held in Abuja was convened by Kennedy Iyere, the President of the
Youths Off The Street Initiative, and his diaspora partners, in collaboration
with ethnic nationalities and local non-governmental organisations.
Among
participants at the programme, attended by over 300 delegates, were the leader
of Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo; Chairman, Igbo World Assembly, Dr Nwachukwu
Anakwenze; President, Yoruba Council of Elders, Dr Kunle Olajide; a former
Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Chief Kofoworola Bucknor; and President of
Southern Kaduna Peoples Union, Jonathan Asake.
Others were
Chairman, Pan Niger Delta Forum, Senator Emmanuel Ibok; former Governor of Ondo
State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko; former Governor of Anambra State, Chief Chukwuemeka
Ezeife; President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr George Obiozor; convener, National
Consultative Front and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali
Na’Abba; a political economist, Prof. Pat Utomi; and a former Minister of
Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode.
While
insisting that “federal character should be used in federal appointments”, the
elder statesmen charged the Federal Government to “urgently address the
recurring security challenges in the country as part of the efforts to avert a
second civil war and possible disintegration of the country.”
The United
Nigeria Advocacy Committee, which was proposed by YOTSI, was also officially
unveiled by Mimiko, under the supervision of the various leaders of ethnic
nationalities.
The mandate
of the committee is to facilitate Nigeria’s constitutional restructuring and
the country’s return to true federalism, while working to promote national
unity, peace, ethno-political integration, religious harmony and national
stability.
The
communique reads, “The meeting asserts that Nigeria needs a ‘new
people-oriented federal constitution’ before the 2023 general elections given
that the current 1999 constitution does not represent the interests of the
people.
“The meeting
insists that the new constitution should provide for ‘true federalism’ that
heralds a restructured Nigeria (and) calls on the Presidency to live up to its
mandate of preserving lives and properties by contending with the current
insecurity.
“The meeting
demands the convening of an emergency ‘national conference ’ to take place in
the Year 2022 to fashion out a new federal constitution on the way forward for
the federating regions. The meeting agrees that the ‘2023 Presidency’ should be
zoned to the South.
“We demand
the amendment of the ‘Electoral Law’ to provide for electronic voting and
real-time transmission of results before the 2023 general elections to provide
for transparency, accountability and to allow the ‘sanctity of the ballot box’
and to reduce electorates’ voting apathy.”
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