A New Constitution Is Impossible Right Now – Yahaya Bello

Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has come out to say that a new and more representative constitution is unrealistic.

He recently revealed this on Monday while delivering his keynote address at the fifth edition of The Osasu Show Symposium 2021 themed ‘State of the nation: The people’s constitution’ at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

According to him, Nigerians can only manage and amend the provisions of the 1999 constitution, but a complete abrogation is impossible right now.

He added that advocating for the total abrogation of the present constitution will be the loadstone for a more egalitarian Nigerian society driven by the rule of law.

His words, “The constitution of Nigerian 1999 was enacted on 29th May 1999 by military decree 24 inaugurating the Nigerian fourth republic and restoring democratic rule.”

“I believe the lack of direct origins in the people or some of their representatives is why some citizens and some sections of civil society insist that none of the previous constitutions of Nigeria qualifies to be called a people’s constitution.”

“They advocate the total abrogation of the present one while calling for a process that will midwife the emergence of a new constitution which they claim will be the loadstone for a more egalitarian Nigerian society driven by the rule of law.”

“I understand their arguments. And how I wish I could buy into their optimism. Sadly, given our socio-political realities as a nation, I think calls to dump the present constitution wholesale and make a new one from scratch are not very realistic at this time.”

“It is always preceded by some authoritarian ways by which society has previously been organised.”

“When the forces of progress and modern governance finally makes democracy inevitable in a polity, the weakened authoritarian institutions usually see themselves overseeing the process of their own overthrow; usually, through the making and promulgation of a constitution.”

“This is the story of most nations and their constitutions. Even those we consider the global democratic powerhouses of the modern world.”