The 1999 constitution cannot take Nigerians to the Promised Land because it is military inclined, former deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olabode George, has declared.
Olabode who is a former governor of the old Ondo State made the declaration on Tuesday when he spoke as the Special Guest of Honour at the fifth annual lecture of one of the fastest growing online newspaper in Nigeria, <span;>Freedom Online<span;>.
The event was held at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
According to Bode George, the constitution was a product of the military and could not serve a good purpose under a democratic setting.
The retired top naval officer said the constitution deserved a review for it to be good enough for the nation.
“Having served that long in the military, l can confirm to you that the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria is absolute military inclined and this will never take us to our Promised land.
“In the military, orders come from top to bottom, but in a democratic dispensation, powers come from the people to the top and that is why things are not working. Therefore, we need to revisit how we run ourselves in order for things to work properly for us,” he said.
Speaking on the poor security situation in the country, the PDP chieftain said there was a serious need to set up state police to ensure safety.
Said he: “Policing is community-based. If possible, we need to have local government police because they know those in their immediate environment.”
In his suggestions about how best Nigeria can move forward for the benefit of all, Bode George said leaders and Nigerians in general should have the fear of God.
“Enough of this deceit, rottenness in the financial management of our nation.
“Let us put an end to the economic inequalities, injustice, unfairness in the distribution of our God-given resources and our financial wealth
“If we have the fear of God, moving forward, our nation will rise again,” he said.
In his welcome address, the Managing Director of <span;>Freedom Online<span;>, Mr. Gabriel Akinadewo, spoke on the need for true federalism.
His words: “The 68 Exclusive Items in the constitution must be tinkered with to favour states and councils.
“The constitution should be reworked in such a way to make the centre unattractive.
“For example, Nigeria can feed the world through agriculture but this can only be done at the state and council levels because all farmers belong to these two tiers of government.
“There is no federal farmer. The federal government can only help in this regard.
<span;>“Nigeria’s problems are localised, so the federal government cannot continue to use a central method to tackle local challenges.”
Also present at the occasion among other dignitaries were former Police Affairs Minister, Navy Captain Omoniyi Olubolade (rtd); former Managing Director of Daily Times, Chief Tola Adeniyi; president of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, Eze Anaba, and president of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers, GOCOP, Maureen Chigbo.
The governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, and the governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, were represented at the occasion.
(Frontpage)