Constitution Review: You Can’t Amend Forged Document, Oyebode Tells NASS

*It’s a product of military decree ― Fayemi

A former Vice-Chancellor of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti,
Professor Akin Oyebode has faulted the ongoing moves by the
National Assembly to amend the 1999 constitution, saying what the
country need is a new people’s oriented constitution.

Oyebode, a professor of International Law and Jurisprudence
noted that there is no amount of amendment to the current 1999
constitution that would make things work for the country, adding
that is difficult to review or amend what he described as a forged
document.

The elder statesman spoke in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti state capital
on Tuesday at a public consultation for the amendment of the 1999
constitution organised by the State Committee for the review of the
constitution to collate the views and position of residents ahead
of the zonal public hearing by the Senate slated for Friday in
Akure, Ondo state capital.

He lamented the abandonment of the over 600 resolutions from the
2014 national conference by the present administration, maintaining
that when implemented, it would address the lingering challenges
bedeviling the country and set the nation on the path of progress
and development.

According to him, ” There is nowhere the people came together to
produce the 1999 constitution, it is a military document that does
not cover the minds and aspirations of the people, it is an
injurious constitution.

“I am sorry to disappoint the National Assembly members that the
exercise they have commenced is needless because you can’t amend a
forged document. We don’t have a constitution, what we have is a
military arrangement and the earlier we know this, the better for
our country.

“Let me say that when a document is irredeemably faulty, there
is no amount of amendment that can make it work. The time is right
to put an end to the lie that we are operating a republic, we are
only pretending to be.”

Oyebode, who chaired the event however disclosed that the
outcomes of the amendment process of the constitution by the
national assembly must be subjected to a national referendum,”
which will reflect the will and interests of the preponderance of
the people.”

He carpeted the presidency’s reaction to the decision of the
Southern Governors to ban open grazing, wondering,” I have not seen
where a president will be challenging the decisions of state
governors.”

Speaking, the Ekiti state governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi described
the 1999 constitution as a product of military decree which is
defective and fell short of expectations of people in the
country.

He called on members of the committee to harmonize the concerns
and aspirations of Ekiti people from the event and ensure that they
are captured in the amendment process.

Fayemi said,” the step we are taking today is in recognition of
the enormity and seriousness attached to the exercise of
constitutional review of 1999 Constitution (as amended). We are all
aware that the current 1999 Constitution that we are operating is a
product of a Military Decree, and as a result, has been subject to
endless criticism. One of the main criticisms is that the 1999
Constitution did not emanate from a process of consultation and
involvement with the public, nor passed through any referendum.

“I have no doubt that with experienced members of the Committee,
your deliberation will be robust, courageous and vibrant and your
recommendations will express the greater aspirations of our people.
There is no better time to exhibit and bring to bear your
statesmanlike maturity, patriotic considerations and vision to help
bring hope and dreams of the public to reality than now.
As you consult and deliberate, I urge you to bear carefully in mind
the challenges of our past, the present and the projection for our
future. I want you to consider every opinion and allow as many
ideas as possible into the discussions.”

On his part, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice,
Olawale Fapohunda while presenting the position of the state’s
executive arm of government said the amendment process is necessary
to guarantee the socio-economic development and progress of the
state.

He said, ” Nigeria is buckling under the weight of sluggish
economic growth, near intractable security concerns and a rise in
the popularity of populous, fringe political elements threatening
its very existence and the intricate political threads that have
held, if precariously, the country together.

“The current constitutional review exercise is yet another
opportunity for the country to re-examine where we are as a country
and agree on practical steps on how to adapt our Constitution to
the tasking and pressing demands of national governance and
contemporary realities.

“For us in Ekiti State, we are actively participating in this
Constitutional Review Process not simply for the sake of it but
because we are determined to ensure that the final outcome of this
process responds to some of the concerns that have dominated our
socio-economic and political development. While undoubtedly there
are issues that we share in common with most States in Nigeria,
there are certain matters that will be subject of our focused
attention.”

Fapohunda revealed that the state would be interested in four
critical areas in the amendment process which include; holistic
police reform, an effective policing system that would guarantee
the safety of lives and property, the rights of women and true
federalism with the devolution of more power to the federating
units.

*It’s a product of military decree ― Fayemi

A former Vice-Chancellor of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti,
Professor Akin Oyebode has faulted the ongoing moves by the
National Assembly to amend the 1999 constitution, saying what the
country need is a new people’s oriented constitution.

Oyebode, a professor of International Law and Jurisprudence
noted that there is no amount of amendment to the current 1999
constitution that would make things work for the country, adding
that is difficult to review or amend what he described as a forged
document.

The elder statesman spoke in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti state capital
on Tuesday at a public consultation for the amendment of the 1999
constitution organised by the State Committee for the review of the
constitution to collate the views and position of residents ahead
of the zonal public hearing by the Senate slated for Friday in
Akure, Ondo state capital.

He lamented the abandonment of the over 600 resolutions from the
2014 national conference by the present administration, maintaining
that when implemented, it would address the lingering challenges
bedeviling the country and set the nation on the path of progress
and development.

According to him, ” There is nowhere the people came together to
produce the 1999 constitution, it is a military document that does
not cover the minds and aspirations of the people, it is an
injurious constitution.

“I am sorry to disappoint the National Assembly members that the
exercise they have commenced is needless because you can’t amend a
forged document. We don’t have a constitution, what we have is a
military arrangement and the earlier we know this, the better for
our country.

“Let me say that when a document is irredeemably faulty, there
is no amount of amendment that can make it work. The time is right
to put an end to the lie that we are operating a republic, we are
only pretending to be.”

Oyebode, who chaired the event however disclosed that the
outcomes of the amendment process of the constitution by the
national assembly must be subjected to a national referendum,”
which will reflect the will and interests of the preponderance of
the people.”

He carpeted the presidency’s reaction to the decision of the
Southern Governors to ban open grazing, wondering,” I have not seen
where a president will be challenging the decisions of state
governors.”

Speaking, the Ekiti state governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi described
the 1999 constitution as a product of military decree which is
defective and fell short of expectations of people in the
country.

He called on members of the committee to harmonize the concerns
and aspirations of Ekiti people from the event and ensure that they
are captured in the amendment process.

Fayemi said,” the step we are taking today is in recognition of
the enormity and seriousness attached to the exercise of
constitutional review of 1999 Constitution (as amended). We are all
aware that the current 1999 Constitution that we are operating is a
product of a Military Decree, and as a result, has been subject to
endless criticism. One of the main criticisms is that the 1999
Constitution did not emanate from a process of consultation and
involvement with the public, nor passed through any referendum.

“I have no doubt that with experienced members of the Committee,
your deliberation will be robust, courageous and vibrant and your
recommendations will express the greater aspirations of our people.
There is no better time to exhibit and bring to bear your
statesmanlike maturity, patriotic considerations and vision to help
bring hope and dreams of the public to reality than now.
As you consult and deliberate, I urge you to bear carefully in mind
the challenges of our past, the present and the projection for our
future. I want you to consider every opinion and allow as many
ideas as possible into the discussions.”

On his part, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice,
Olawale Fapohunda while presenting the position of the state’s
executive arm of government said the amendment process is necessary
to guarantee the socio-economic development and progress of the
state.

He said, ” Nigeria is buckling under the weight of sluggish
economic growth, near intractable security concerns and a rise in
the popularity of populous, fringe political elements threatening
its very existence and the intricate political threads that have
held, if precariously, the country together.

“The current constitutional review exercise is yet another
opportunity for the country to re-examine where we are as a country
and agree on practical steps on how to adapt our Constitution to
the tasking and pressing demands of national governance and
contemporary realities.

“For us in Ekiti State, we are actively participating in this
Constitutional Review Process not simply for the sake of it but
because we are determined to ensure that the final outcome of this
process responds to some of the concerns that have dominated our
socio-economic and political development. While undoubtedly there
are issues that we share in common with most States in Nigeria,
there are certain matters that will be subject of our focused
attention.”

Fapohunda revealed that the state would be interested in four
critical areas in the amendment process which include; holistic
police reform, an effective policing system that would guarantee
the safety of lives and property, the rights of women and true
federalism with the devolution of more power to the federating
units.