23
Jul
Jul
PATRIOTS CAUTION AGAINST FURTHER AMENDMENTS TO 1999 CONSTITUTION
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CapitalTimesNews / 4 days
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- 2 min read
The Patriots, a leading platform of eminent national leaders and statesmen, has raised serious concerns over the ongoing efforts by the National Assembly to further amend the 1999 Constitution. Instead, the group is calling for an urgent interface with the leadership of the National Assembly to ensure alignment with the aspirations of the Nigerian people for a new democratic people’s constitution. In a statement signed by Media Manager, National Constitutional Summit, Comrade James Ezema, The Patriots Secretary General, Olawale Okunniyi, acknowledged the widespread enthusiasm and national attention for constitutional reforms, describing it as a demonstration of the people’s desire to see Nigeria work. However, Okunniyi cautioned that no amount of amendment can transform the 1999 Constitution into a legitimate people’s constitution. Okunniyi stated that the legitimacy of any constitution lies in its origin, ownership, and popular ratification, none of which the 1999 Constitution can credibly claim. “We must remind ourselves that amending a military decree of false constitution like Nigeria 1999 Constitution can never make a constitution of the people of Nigeria,” Okunniyi said. The Patriots applauded the attendance and participation of top Northern Delegates and Stakeholders at the just-concluded Summit, noting that it demonstrated the commitment of Nigerians to constitutional reform. Okunniyi emphasized that the outcome of the recently concluded Emergency National Constitutional Summit on the Future of Nigeria’s Constitutional Democracy emphasized the urgent need for a new, people-driven constitution as the foundation for a stable and inclusive democratic federation. “We insist, and history will vindicate us, that it is in the best interest of all ethnic nationalities in Nigeria—on whose behalf today’s leaders hold office as stewards—to support the making of a new constitution by Nigerians, for Nigerians,” Okunniyi said. The Patriots called on the leadership of the National Assembly to urgently initiate a formal engagement with the group and other concerned stakeholders to chart a genuine, inclusive path forward. “Nigeria cannot afford another lost opportunity. What we need is not another amendment of a fundamentally flawed document, but the democratic birth of a legitimate, people’s constitution,” Okunniyi concluded. The Patriots reaffirmed its commitment to the advancement of constitutional democracy, federalism, and national unity and pledged to continue engaging all critical stakeholders until a people-driven constitution becomes the foundation of governance in Nigeria.
