By John Ikani
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has said that the 9th Assembly will review the entire 1999 constitution with the aim of birthing a document that will reflect democratic ideals and resolve foundational conflicts threatening Nigeria’s journey to nationhood.
Gbajabiamila revealed this during his speech to mark the end of the legislative year.
According to him: “The Constitutional amendment process in the House of Representatives continues apace. We have received submissions from across the country. We have conducted nationwide public hearings to seek the views of the Nigerian people so that the final product of the process reflects as much as is possible, the best expectations of our fellow citizens. As I have said before, this constitutional amendment process is unlike those that came before.
“This time, we seek nothing less than a wholesale review of the constitution with the express intention of crafting a document that reflects the democratic ideal, and at the same time resolves those foundational conflicts of our nationhood that hinder our march to progress. The current constitution of our Federal Republic reflects our past. We need a constitution that speaks to our present and makes a better future possible. And it is our commitment in this 9th House of Representatives to deliver such a constitution.”
The Speaker therefore appealed to members and Nigerians in general not to give heed to actions and utterances that will tear the nation apart.
What you should know
Right from its inception on May 29, 1999, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, has been traumatised with problems and controversies.
In particular, the federalist feature of the Constitution as it relates to certain sensitive national issues has been a subject of various debates and arguments.
While many have posited that the 1999 Constitution is nothing but a failed document incapable of redeeming the country from its present predicament, others believe that the question of constitution is not the major setback for the nation’s development but that of attitude.
