The contradictions of the Nigerian Constitution came to fore again on Wednesday when elder statesman, Are Ade Babalola, described it as one that encourages inolence.
More people have highlighted areas that engender political and economic stagnation in the constitution, with some, including another popular lawyer, Tuni Abayomi, saying what the country needed was a new Constitution.
But Babalola, who has continued to advocate restructuring, said th Constitution hampered creativity and self drive.
The legal luminary and founder of the Age Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, thus backed the new constitution being proposed by the National Assembly, saying it would ensure rapid development of Nigeria’s federating states and geopolitical zones.
He spoke in Lagos on Wednesday at the maiden edition of the Goke Omisore Annual Lecture organised by the Voice of Reason.
The lecture, with the theme, ‘Restructuring: Building a knowledge-based society,’ held at the MUSON Centre, Onikan and Babalola was represented by the Provost, Postgraduate School, Afe Babalola University, Prof. Kunle Olowu, as chairman on the occasion.
It was delivered by an American-based aerospace engineer and author, Prof. James Fabunmi.
The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was represented by his Special Adviser on Drainage and Water Resources, Mr Joe Igbokwe.
Speaking as chairman on the occasion, Babalola said his prayer was that there would be more oil discoveries around the country because “it will make it easier for the country to embark on the process of restructuring and thereby solve the age-long problem of oil-producing states.”
He reiterated his belief that the 1999 Constitution was the bane of Nigeria’s prosperity, saying it should be completely discarded.
He said the 1999 Constitution “encourages indolence, lack of creativity, greed, avarice, wanton struggle for positions in the central government and untoward attitude of begging for monthly allocation from the Federal Government.”
Babalola added that as a result of the constitution, politics had become the most lucrative business in the country.
He said, “The proposed new constitution would make politics less attractive. It will enable Nigeria to have transformational leaders, who will be visionary and enterprising; who will serve for free; who will only earn sitting allowances and who will use government money for the development of the country.
“The new people’s constitution will put a most deserving end to the current prevalence of transactional leaders who are only out to make money for themselves.”
The programme was also attended by dignitaries including the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams; the President General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nwodo; a former governorship aspirant in Lagos State, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Mr Jimi Agbaje and Chairman, Toyota Nigeria Limited, Chief Michael Ade-Ojo.
The guest lecturer, Fabunmi, said it was time Nigerians should begin to expect less from government and focus on what they could do as individuals.
He advocated the building of a knowledge-based society to throw up inventors.
