Elder Statesman and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), has warned that the future of Nigeria is at risk with the 1999 Constitution.
He warned that it would be very dangerous to hold another election in 2023 without having a “people’s constitution” as a replacement to the “foisted” 1999 Constitution.
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Babalola said the worsening security and economic situations in Nigeria called for a radical approach to reverse the ugly trend.
He stated these while addressing journalists in Ado-Ekiti yesterday.
Babalola advocated an interim government after President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure to midwife the birth of the new people’s constitution, which would save the country from imminent doom.
He said members of the interim government should be drawn from former presidents, vice presidents, some selected ministers and governors, delegates of professional bodies such as NBA, NMA, ASUU, NLC, NUJ and civil society organisations.
He added, “I believe that whoever is seeking elections as a president, governor and National Assembly member should not be more than 60 years, with good and sound health, sound education, experience, good human relations, friendliness and firmness, vision and mission, among others.
“The new constitution shall provide for part-time legislators and not full time, and the attendant wasting of resources, that will be collecting allowances and not salaries; propose a federal system of government rather than presidential system and a parliamentary system with a unicameral legislature.
“We need a new set of leaders in our nation; leaders who will not see themselves as Mr Know All and who will not see themselves as above everyone.”
