The burden of credibility confronting the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1979 and 1999 is nothing more than the lack identity of such a document with ‘the People’. Much as the endorsement of the people has been sought for its operations through political diplomacy, there exists no bond between the people and “their” constitution.
This separation between the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a country and the ethnic groups that make up the Nigeria is a complication, making it difficult for the country to arrive at Nationhood.
Ownership in Nationhood must belong to the people, processed through a conference chronicle in clear communication of common interest wherein they agree to live together as one nation in consciousness of their right to self-determination of any part, if and when they so desire.
The superimposition of military decrees over pretentious compilation called CFRN 1979 and 1999 without input from the Indigenous People is the very reason both constitutions have not and will never work!
The false claim of the opening phrase of both volumes that are said to be the 1979 cum 1999 CFRN, “WE THE PEOPLE,” alludes to what does not exist; the authority of the people as the power of the document is the greatest challenge any Government truly concerned about this country and the people must fixed.
The unfortunate level of poverty supervised by the “dead economy” inherited from Buhari according to the Presidency is proof that the economy of countries is tied to the lives of countries. You can’t have a country giving no life to the people and expecting the economy to live.
The raging debate centered around the constitution is saying something to all of us and clearly so; we must all accept that until the right of ownership of this country is restored to the people no advancement can be made by any Government.
The position of the pro 1999 document adjudged the CFRN flown by Dr Akin Fapohunda began the hype in public communication on the subject, though opposed by me, my position goes beyond me; it represented various groups and interests to which I belong and with whom I have interacted with very deeply. It brought to fore the intelligent submission of Da Jonathan Sunday Akuns (Galadima Daffo) on the lifting of the suspension of the CFRN 1963 as the way forward citing many reasons. It opens the dialogue on the subject between Akuns and Fapohunda on several other platforms, forcing a convergence of indigenous groups and fast crystalizing in a movement we can call; “WE THE PEOPLE”!
For the record, Dr Akin Fapohunda’s latest 59-page submission is commendable, but looks a bit mischievous to have remained silent on critical opposing views and group that shifted him back to a position he took in 2021 in support of CFRN 1963 against his kite for decree 24 aka 1999 CFRN in his second coming in 2024.
I bothered to reach out to him thus; “Read through your 59-page submission, though trusting to make time out for a thorough study. An improvement on public thought’s representation on the subject.”
You also referenced a number of groups and individuals which is what the assignment demands. Though I got no mention in the body of work especially the section about 1963 CFRN & the listing of CIEN; truth be told, I think I deserve a mention @ Dr Bolaji O. Akinyemi @ Apostolic Round Table and Da Jonathan Sunday Akuns the Galadima Daffo of the Ron ethnic nation cum a component of IGR., He is the leader of the Proposal to NASS for a reset to 1963 CFRN in response to NASS public invitation for input for a review of the CFRN that has triggered the ongoing discourse; he should sincerely not be ignored. Moreover, by pen on paper, you have alluded to the novelty of his idea after both of you shared thoughts in the public space on different platforms on the subject together.
Please, treat this as a recommendation for your consideration. Best regards”. He replied thus; “It is only God that can recognise and reward all efforts. I will make amends in the future”
I wouldn’t know where the allusion to “reward” is coming from; probably there is a reward for the Government of Bola Ahmed Tinubu in view. I need to make it crystal clear that our expectation is to see a restructured Nigeria works for all, in which, no person or part of this nation is oppressed in the spirit of the renewed national anthem.
However, it is ethical and a scholarly ethos to so recognise our intellectual contribution to the thought process that influenced his? new document. Driven without inclusivity is what deprived the CFRN 1979 and 1999 of credibility. To deliberately choose to be silent on persons and groups deserving a mention is against the culture of the more the merrier from which a credible constitution should derive its life.
The burden before all Indigenous Group is how to align with the movement and make it a voice of, We The People to speak on the needed foundation upon which nations are built in Constitutional Democracy; a people’s constitution!
The synergy of a people-birthed constitution and a government mandated by them through a free and fair elections is what guarantee stability first, upon which progress can be made. That crossroads, is where we are; the illegality of flatly converting military decrees into documents called constitutions in 1979 and 1999 with a life from the complex of military incursion into power, and illegally so, is a revelation of the wisdom to give up building up a nation without foundation. A military decree is a political process deployed to professionally handle power usurped by force and violence; thus, demonstrating the failure of the military as professional managers of force and violence. It is noteworthy that India and the USA also emerged from the same colonial foundation as Nigeria but never got interloped by their military despite stridency of political rancour.
An eternal principle was put forth in a question asked by one of the most successful builders of nation the world has ever known; “If the foundation is destroyed what can the righteous do? Nigeria can be great, yes, if we prioritise the need to sincerely recognise and commend the labours of nation builders; otherwise, we end with the vanity of our heroes past.
The Government must see the need to meet with WE THE PEOPLE and grant a platform of authority and recognition to the only thing needed now; a restructured Nigeria through a people’s constitution to serve the needs of the citizens.
In the midst of our search for a credible constitution by which the country can be taken to task and nudge towards nation building came the ruling of the Supreme court on local government autonomy. The Supreme court ruling, which Governor Makinde aptly described as a distraction, actually complicated the problem for our search for a people’s constitution, necessitating the urgency of the need for We the People of Nigeria to put out ideas for a credible CFRN.
Other reactions have trailed the pronouncement of the Supreme Court, poignant again is the one from Galadima Daffo, Da Jonathan Sunday Akuns, who opined thus; “the litigation is all about a political calculation towards the 2027 election cycle aimed at forestalling the efficacy of political alliances. LGAs will be the focus of presidential election initiative and the parameter for action. Direct payment of FAAC funds to LGAs is a contravention of some other sections of the said 1999 Constitution; hence, it may stir fresh legal arguments”.
“The gamut of the litigation underscores our stance for restructuring to enthrone fiscal federalism in Nigeria away from the ongoing tragedy of unitarism, in so many ways than one; the governance framework in Nigeria is anchored on military democracy vide decrees starting from 15.1.1966 when 1963 republican constitution was suspended, the two documents often referenced as constitution of 1979 or 1999 are simply decrees 104 and 24 respectively as professional political process of the military in handling seizure of power without the mandate of We the People vide universal adult suffrage of partisanship, LGAs as a 3rd tier of government negates federalism in theory cum practice anywhere in the world, etc. We await the next steps of the FGN and other stakeholders in dealing with the outcome of the Supreme Court verdict on LGA litigation.” Nothing has necessitated the need for a new constitution than the pronouncement of the Supreme Court on LGA autonomy. Now is the time for citizens driven by values beyond tribal supremacy to come together to chronicle a document that all Nigerians can trust and relate with; to enthrone and amend the 1963 republican CFRN with contemporary realities provides a sturdy watershed.
