Delegates want to draft new constitution

Chief Shola Ebiseni, who presented the idea, said Nigeria is like a patient requiring immediate attention.“This Conference is not about constitutional amendment because if that were the case, we will only be repeating what the National Assembly is doing and that if need arose, the conference can draft a new constitution for the country,” Ebiseni […]

Chief Shola Ebiseni, who presented the idea, said Nigeria is like a patient requiring immediate attention.
“This Conference is not about constitutional amendment because if that were the case, we will only be repeating what the National Assembly is doing and that if need arose, the conference can draft a new constitution for the country,” Ebiseni said.
Another delegate, Olaniwun Ajayi from the Southwest, who supported the position, said: “We are here to right all the wrongs of the past. If by any mistake, the decision of this conference is submitted to the National Assembly, then we are back to square one.”
He added: “We should amend the rules to state that our conclusions will be submitted to the people of this country for a referendum.”
Also, Joe Okei-Odumakin of the civil society groups, who supported the previous speakers, insisted that the decision should be taken immediately. She was supported by Dr. Joe Nwaogu from the Southeast.
However, Former Senate President Ken Nnamani faulted the calls for the conference to write a new constitution, arguing that delegates lacked required legal backing to take such a decision.
“At present, we do not have any legal backing to do it. We are not here to draft a new constitution. We can make suggestions towards constitutional amendment. Let us only do those things that we are capable of doing,” he said.
Alhaji Magaji Dambatta said as faulty as the process that brought it about could be, members of the National Assembly are elected representatives of the people.
“But we were not elected. We are not representing anybody. We were appointed by the President. Ours is to report back in a manner that is consistent with our mandate,” he said.
Former Minister of Education, Professor Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’I, said the powers of the delegates should begin and end with the conference.
“Let us simply recommend to the President. We should stop where we are supposed to stop,” she said.