Kolade, varsity dons, others seek people’s constitution

•’Current constitution promotes inequality, civil unrest’

SCHOLARS and eminent personalities of Yoruba descents have called on the Federal Government to set up machineries in motion to give the country a new constitution that will be fair to all ethnic nationalities and geo-political zones.

They said the current constitution, if not urgently reviewed or out-rightly repelled, would lead the country to a decline.

They spoke at a “Roundtable with National and state Assembly candidates of major political parties in Southwest”.

It was organised by a Yoruba interest group, Voice of Reason (VOR), with theme: “Imperative of restructuring and the need for a new constitution”, in Lagos.

The speakers argued that the Federal Character Principles, as presently outlined in the constitution, has been eroded by those promoting ethnic favouritism.

Leading discussions at the event, former Nigeria High Commissioner to United Kingdom Dr. Christopher Kolade said the restructuring of the country’s political sphere was very germane and imperative to bring the country back to its right part.

The retired seasoned broadcaster, who was the chairman of the occasion, said Nigeria needs national transformation, stressing that a new constitution could drive that.

Kolade urged the citizens to concentrate on creating good structures for the country’s restructuring.

He, however, maintained that such structures must have faithful people to operate them or else, the whole struggle would become wasted.

Calling on political leaders to promote national unity, Kolade said: “I want to say that the Federal Character Principles should be implemented in line with constitution to promote and create equal opportunity for every regions of the country.

Chairman of Elizade Group of Companies and Founder, Elizade University, Ilaramokin, Ondo State, Chief Micheal Adeojo, who is a member of VOR, said that he aligned with everything said by Kolade.

In his paper titled: “Imperative of restructuring and the needs for a new constitution for Nigeria”, a renowned erudite scholar, Dr. Akin Fapohunda, said Yoruba culture and traditions must also be strengthened to enhance progress.

Fapohunda, who introduced the draft of a proposed Nigerian Constitution written by the organisation to the gathering, maintained that Nigeria as presently constituted is running a Unitary System of government.

He berated politicians spending excess money to fund campaigns, stressing that such contradict the virtues of “Omoluabi” that is needed to drive growth.

Chairman of VOR Dr. Olufemi Adegoke said the purpose of politics is to strengthen the society and its people.

Notable dignitaries at the event are a former senator and a member of the organisation, Akin Odunsi; Admiral Toye Sode, Mrs. Jumoke Anifowose-Ajasin; retired Assistant Inspector General of Police Tunji Alapini; Convener, Yoruba Koya Movement Otunba Deji Osibogun; the General Secretary of VOR and Otunba Yomi Alao, renowned Developmental Economist, Bolaji Ogunseye.

Also present at the event are the Kowa Party Presidential candidate for 2019 general elections Mr. Shina Fagbenro Brown, popular Lawyer Soji Akingbade, a member of the House of Representatives and the candidate of the Lagos State All Progressives Congress for Agege federal Constituency Samuel Adejare, many candidates of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), All Progressives Congress (APC), People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP), including many eminent scholars and corporate players.