Replace 1999 Constitution with 1963 Republican Constitution, Akande urges

A former Governor of Osun State, Chief Bisi Akande, has urged the National Assembly to replace the 1999 Constitution with the 1963 Republican Constitution, arguing that the “piecemeal amendment” of the 1999 Constitution given to the nation by the military will aid the disintegration of Nigeria rather than make it to progress.

He said the replacement should be temporal, pending the time a new constitution would be put in place for the nation.

Akande, who blamed the 1999 Constitution for corruption and underdevelopment, said amending the constitution would not bring out any good result, while stressing that the document should be discarded in its entirety.

According to a statement made available to our correspondent in Osogbo on Tuesday, Akande, who is the first interim national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, made the remarks at the presentation of a book written by Chief Seinde Arogbofa, entitled “Nigeria: The Path We Refused to Take.”

Akande described the 1999 Constitution as Nigeria’s greatest misadventure, saying reviewing the document would not be beneficial to the nation in any way, as it would block the essence  of national values.

Akande said, “The 1999 Constitution is Nigeria’s greatest misadventure since Lugard’s amalgamation of 1914.

“The constitution puts emphasis on spending rather than making money, thereby intensifying the battles for supremacy between the legislature and the executive while the judiciary is being corruptly tainted and discredited.

“The constitution breeds and protects corrupt practices and criminal impunity in governance.

“The 1999 Constitution can never be beneficially reviewed and the ongoing piecemeal adjustments or amendments can only totally blot the essence of national values and accelerate the de-amalgamation of Nigeria.

“All the angels coming from heavens cannot make that constitution work for the progress of Nigeria.

“It should only be scrapped as a bad relics of military mentality; and it ought to be temporarily replaced with the 1963 Republican Constitution to enable a transition for the writing of a suitable constitution.

“Otherwise, the 1999 Constitution would continue to dwarf Nigeria’s economy and stifle the country’s social structure pending a disastrous and catastrophic bankruptcy.”

The former governor  warned against any criminal revolution in the country, calling on all Nigerians to begin the search for a better future, just as he prayed for an end to the present problems confronting the nation.

The APC chieftain also noted that the military involvement in Nigerian politics for 29 out of Nigeria’s 57 years of independence was the reason for its dwarf democracy and absence of desired development.

He said the military incursion into Nigerian politics has bastardised the political system so much so that political discussions are no longer issues-based or interesting, warning that the situation has become very dangerous for the future of the society, particularly among the youths.

arguing that the “piecemeal amendment” of the 1999 Constitution given to the nation by the military will aid the disintegration of Nigeria rather than make it to progress.

He said the replacement should be temporal, pending the time a new constitution would be put in place for the nation.

Akande, who blamed the 1999 Constitution for corruption and underdevelopment, said amending the constitution would not bring out any good result, while stressing that the document should be discarded in its entirety.

According to a statement made available to our correspondent in Osogbo on Tuesday, Akande, who is the first interim national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, made the remarks at the presentation of a book written by Chief Seinde Arogbofa, entitled “Nigeria: The Path We Refused to Take.”

Akande described the 1999 Constitution as Nigeria’s greatest misadventure, saying reviewing the document would not be beneficial to the nation in any way, as it would block the essence  of national values.

Akande said, “The 1999 Constitution is Nigeria’s greatest misadventure since Lugard’s amalgamation of 1914.

“The constitution puts emphasis on spending rather than making money, thereby intensifying the battles for supremacy between the legislature and the executive while the judiciary is being corruptly tainted and discredited.

“The constitution breeds and protects corrupt practices and criminal impunity in governance.

“The 1999 Constitution can never be beneficially reviewed and the ongoing piecemeal adjustments or amendments can only totally blot the essence of national values and accelerate the de-amalgamation of Nigeria.

“All the angels coming from heavens cannot make that constitution work for the progress of Nigeria.

“It should only be scrapped as a bad relics of military mentality; and it ought to be temporarily replaced with the 1963 Republican Constitution to enable a transition for the writing of a suitable constitution.

“Otherwise, the 1999 Constitution would continue to dwarf Nigeria’s economy and stifle the country’s social structure pending a disastrous and catastrophic bankruptcy.”

The former governor  warned against any criminal revolution in the country, calling on all Nigerians to begin the search for a better future, just as he prayed for an end to the present problems confronting the nation.

The APC chieftain also noted that the military involvement in Nigerian politics for 29 out of Nigeria’s 57 years of independence was the reason for its dwarf democracy and absence of desired development.

He said the military incursion into Nigerian politics has bastardised the political system so much so that political discussions are no longer issues-based or interesting, warning that the situation has become very dangerous for the future of the society, particularly among the youths.

 

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