Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on Wednesday, backed the call for the country to return to the use of the 1963 Constitution.

Governor Akeredolu spoke while declaring open the Zonal Public hearing of the review of the 1999 Constitution held at the Cultural and International Event Centre, Akure.

Akeredolu stated that the powers of the federal government must be trimmed down as it was the major of friction in the country and politics of bitterness.

He warned that the current attempt at the Constitution amendment should be taken beyond the usual jamboree conceived and executed to arrive at predetermined result.

The Ondo Governor said the 1963 Constitution which reflected the Republican status of the country remained the best document for a country as heterogeneous as Nigeria.

He said it was the best practicable guide towards nationhood but was abolished by the military by imposing a unitary system on the country.

According to him, “The current exercise, therefore, must not toe the path of the previous attempts at tokenism. The basic law of any country must not be reduced to frivolities reflecting preferred whimsies. It must not be oppressive of the minorities. Its provisions must indeed give teeth to the primary purpose for which the government exists. No provision of the law must not be justiciable as Chapter Two of the current 1999 Constitution seeks to impress on us.

“All the agitations of the peoples of this country must be looked into with a view to improving the economic power of the average citizens. The best way possible is to allow each region flower in its areas of comparative advantage. The behemoth called the Federal Government must shed the excess weight unduly appropriated over time. It is the major cause of friction. It is the reason for the politics of bitterness. It explains why everyone wants the power at the centre. It promotes ethnic chauvinists and encourages mediocrity.

“The new law must view, critically, the current misnomer which sees the Federal Government appropriating humongous amounts for moribund agencies whose duties overlap with those of the states. The fiscal policy of the country must be restructured to encourage ingenuity and uncommon resourcefulness. The Federal Government should only coordinate and receive royalties. The current system is not sustainable. All of us are beginning to appreciate this fact.

“The current exercise will derive its legitimacy if taken to the people for revalidation. Nothing must be taken for granted. Everyone must be treated as an equal partner in this whole enterprise of nation-building.”

“No patriotic citizen can deny the fact that the country faces dire challenges at the moment which, in themselves, bear the necessary ingredients for redefinition, determination, growth and eventual development. The movement towards social integration must be steady and focused.”

https://thenationonlineng.net/constitution-review-akeredolu-backs-return-to-1963-constitution/

The Ondo Governor said the 1963 Constitution which reflected the Republican status of the country remained the best document for a country as heterogeneous as Nigeria.

He said it was the best practicable guide towards nationhood but was abolished by the military by imposing a unitary system on the country.

Yeah the military led us to where by are by abolishing that constitution. It’s a joint enterprise by Ironsi, Gowon who nailed the semi-final coffin, and even 1999 constitution is just another wahala on its own by those same military.

If you look critically at the Decree 34 that abolished the federal system which is the genesis, you will see that everything Federal was removed from the constitution.

--The 2. (1a) The Federal Military government will be known as National Military Government

The Federal Executive Council will be known as Executive Council.

--The 2. (1b) The Federal Capital Territory will be known as Capital Territory

They should just return the Federal back now and make it a true federalism, devolution of power, revenue sharing, state policing (infact not only police, the state should take over a lot more of what the FG is controlling), and etc.

The best way possible is to allow each region flower in its areas of comparative advantage. The behemoth called the Federal Government must shed the excess weight unduly appropriated over time. It is the major cause of friction. It is the reason for the politics of bitterness. It explains why everyone wants the power at the centre. It promotes ethnic chauvinists and encourages mediocrity.

Absolutely brilliant. This man needs to run for Oduduwa President or even Nigeria President. The only man that puts politics aside to do what's right for the people and unapologetic about it as well. May God continue to bless him.

Brilliant man, makes sense...I respect his objectivity, the others are mediocre thieves.

Man wey get sense, forget his party affiliation, he is speaking like a proper SAN is supposed to speak.

MrMaestro:


Absolutely brilliant. This man needs to run for Oduduwa President or even Nigeria President. The only man that puts politics aside to do what's right for the people and unapologetic about it as well. May God continue to bless him.

Yeah that man is sound and brilliant.

Now they talking

That's the way to go. Stop wasting resources reviewing a fraudulent and an illegal constitution. We all know that every Military govt is a fraud because they stole the people's mandate so can a legal constitution come out of a fraudulent govt?

Go back to the 1963 constitution but replace the regions with states.

Forget party lines, forget ethnicity,forget religion,


This man stands to earn my vote. Speaks sanely irrespective of the person being addressed.
He just wants his people to live a better life which I think we all deserve at least in this country.

Apt!

The 1999 constitution drafted and approved by some northern military personnels is nothing but fraud.

It may though need some modifications to reflect the current realities of the country as a microsmcosm of the current world. But nonetheless it will be the template.

Let's wait to see Malami's (SAN) infantile argument as usual. Then followed by Garba "garbage" Shehu representing the presidency to pronounce support for Malami's view and counter opinions.

Was Nigeria an el dorado in 1963

Do it quickly sha

Even better they should go back to the ABURI ACCORD that GOWON and his British sponsors rejected.

The ABURI ACCORD completely restructured Nigeria into a confederation. But the British advised GOWON against it after he already agreed to it.

Aketi for President

The only people rubbishing this great nation is the Northerners with their illiteracy and singular objective of owning the whole nation

The only man worthy of being called south west leader.Tinubu is a janjaweedi arselicker

So we want to go back to regions?

Sorry, but no thanks.

The 1963 constitution did not solve Nigeria's problems then and it won't now

Our problem is not constitutions it is our lack of willingness to follow due process.

And I ain't pro North or South by the way

Ok

They are just doing all this one to buy time before 2023 election, they will soon throw it in dustbin just like comfab report of 2014. So they know what they are doing.

LegendHero:


Yeah the military led us to where by are by abolishing that constitution. It’s a joint enterprise by Ironsi, Gowon who nailed the semi-final coffin, and even 1999 constitution is just another wahala on its own by those same military.

If you look critically at the Decree 34 that abolished the federal system which is the genesis, you will see that everything Federal was removed from the constitution.

--The 2. (1a) The Federal Military government will be known as National Military Government

The Federal Executive Council will be known as Executive Council.

--The 2. (1b) The Federal Capital Territory will be known as Capital Territory

They should just return the Federal back now and make it a true federalism, devolution of power, revenue sharing, state policing (infact not only police, the state should take over a lot more of what the FG is controlling), and etc.

all this

is just political distraction it will amount to Nothing

LegendHero:


Yeah that man is sound and brilliant.

the man is sound on paper, but when u here him speak, you will just hate him, thou I lyk him small sha

Babangida and Obasanjo will be sore afraid, both dont want good things for ordinary citizens, except themselves alone

Way to go.

"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result" - Albert Einstein

It obvious to the blind and audible to deaf, that the present operational structure and system of the entity call Nigeria is a failed one, all effort to salvage the situation has proven abortive, therefore only the insane would insist on maintaining status quo.

In Pastor Adeboye's words "its either we restructure now or breakup"

Besides what is the point kicking out the military rule and retaining their operational document and structure?