Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, has described the 1999 constitution as amended as defective and serving as a stumbling block to healthy interactions among component units and agencies in Nigeria thereby limited the country’s development.
He made this known in his speech delivered at the 59th Founders’ Day Anniversary lecture of Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo on Saturday 21st May, 2023.
Akeredolu, who was represented at the lecture by his Special Adviser on Union Matters and Special Duties, Mr. Dare Aragbaiye lamented that the current socio-political structure strengthened in the country by the 1999 constitution is hostile to development.
He said “a defective law cannot engender peace and progress. It is, more often than not the source of the seemingly intractable crises.”
“there can be no development in a place where the law and its application are skewed, heavily, against the majority of the people. When the law becomes an instrument of repression, the society is imperiled.”
“there can be no meaningful achievement from the existence of a set of regulations whose purpose is to sustain the privileges enjoyed by a parasitic few at the detriment of the majority.“
Akeredolu explained that the existence of the 1999 Constitution as amended cannot engender progress in the country as it fails to address the challenges faced by people in the country.
He said “the current civilian dispensation commenced after the departure of the military on the 29th May, 1999. The 1999 Constitution, as amended was promulgated to law by the regime of General Abdulsalam Abubakar, GCFR, in the same year.”
“If there is any document whose existence represents an experiment in audacious mendacity, it is this so called Constitution of the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
“the Constitution tells manifest lies against itself. It purports to represent the wishes of the Nigerian people but nothing can be farther from this obvious lie.”
He recommended the 1963 Republican Constitution as a veritable guide for the desired development and called on the in-coming administration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to be show sincere commitment towards changing the narrative.
He said “the incoming administration has its job clearly defined. It is inheriting not only a heavy backlog of disaffection and complaints from the citizenry from all parts of the country, it has sold its campaign on the promise of a ‘Renewed Hope’.”
“this clearly points at its readiness to address existential issues which bedevil the country at the moment. The expectations are high but the obstacles which have been erected to militate against progress are enormous.”
“the tasks are going to be arduous but not insurmountable. The President and his team, as well as the Governors in the States, must be courageous to confront the problems headlong.”
“the federal government must divest itself off the overwhelming but self-imposed duties for the country to breathe. The States must be encouraged to explore their domains and be creative.”
“the federal government must ban importation of all items which the country is capable of producing. The taxation on luxury goods must be heavy.”
“the states must be allowed to operate fully without hindrance as it is the case from federal agencies which encroach steadily on their sphere of influence.”
“the States should control their resources and pay taxes to the Federal Government. Proceeds from sales tax, Value Added Tax, must be distributed according to contributions.”
“any State which feels incapable of proceeding as a socio-economic cum political entity may seek to join others. The States must be allowed to assume their full identities. They are no junior partners to the federal government. They enjoy coordinate powers.”
“the development of Nigeria will continue to be an imagined possibility unless these measures are considered, all efforts geared towards development will amount to reinforcing failure.”
