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Constitutional lawyer and senior supporter of Nigeria (SAN), Mike Ozekhome, has confirmed that sustainable amendments to the 1999 constitution cannot complete the rooted political, economic and security challenges in Nigeria, describing the document as a “curse” in national development.
Speaking during an interview at Channels Television Politics Today on Friday night, Ozekhome insisted that only the adoption of a new constitution driven by people could position Nigeria on the path of progress.
“What we need is a new constitution driven by people,” he said. “You cannot change bad documents. Documents that have suffered from diseases cannot be changed.”
Using a metaphor, he equates efforts to change the current constitution to renovate buildings that are structurally unhealthy. “If you have problems in your home, the building is cracked, how do you solve it? Some people say, ‘Let’s change the current constitution.’ Amendment, one million times, cannot solve the problem, “he said.
Ozekhome argues that the 1999 constitution, which was revealed by the military without popular agreement, was rooted throughout the government of power in Abuja, thereby holding back autonomy and regional development. “That is imposed on us by the military government. We need a truly people’s constitution that reflects our desires,” he said.
He described the dependence of excessive countries about federal allocation as a direct consequence of the centralized governance model. “There is no state that produces; each state relies on Abuja. Abuja becomes too centered and strong, which is why everyone goes there,” he complained.
San also criticized the current system of government presidential government, exemplifying the United States, because it was “too expensive” and “not sustainable.”
“We use around 70 to 80 percent of our national budget for repeated expenses and debt services, leaving only 20 to 30 percent for capital projects. That cannot bring us anywhere,” Ozekhome said.
He advised to return to the parliamentary government system that was practiced before the 1966 military coup, with the reason that it was more efficient, cost-effective, and more suitable for the socio-political context of Nigeria.
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“The parliamentary system is cheaper but more effective. Under the system, political parties that campaign, not individuals who need trillions in 2027 to fight as president or governor,” he explained.
Ozekhome said such a system would allow regions to control their resources and internal security, foster job creation, economic productivity, and local responses to insecurity.
“This brings more money to the table, it creates jobs, and most importantly, this helps security. Once people control their local security and resources, unsafe will disappear. This is not rocket science,” he said.
He maintains that efforts to reform the current constitution are tantamount to patching the structure that is destroyed rather than rebuilding it from the foundation. “Don’t invite someone to patch up the gaps. You knocked it down and rebuild it,” he said.
Constitutional lawyers added that the new constitution will provide a framework to overcome critical issues such as poverty, food vulnerability, and increased violence.
“Once power is launched, people will feel responsible and empowered to manage their affairs. That is translated into development,” he said.
Ozekhome also condemned resistance to restructure with the political interests that could be held, which he was accused of hoarding central forces for selfish benefits. “They will say, ‘There is no restructuring, there is no local government autonomy,’ because power is at the center. The greed for this central power kills the state,” he said.
He further suggested that even in a federal system that was restructured in which the region has its own constitution, national unity can be preserved through the same representative in the parliamentary model.
In a direct request to the Tinubu Bola President, Ozekhome asked the government to spearhead the encouragement for the new constitution, quoting the history of the president’s advocacy for structural reforms.
“Tinubu knows that the new constitution will solve our problems. In the past, he was one of us who had an affair for the people’s constitution, and if he did, he would be remembered in history more than for other achievements during his term of office,” he concluded.
