Bode George who is a former deputy national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has maintained that democracy was failing in Nigeria because the present 1999 constitution which was imposed by the military and copied from the United States is not working.
George pointed out that the current presidential system was expansive and not suited for the country, noting that there was the need for constitutional review, restructuring or implementation of the 2014 National conference report.
The PDP chieftain made this known while featuring as a guest speaker at the Fifth Year Lecture organised by SWAAYA Limited, publishers of the Freedom online news platform on Tuesday.
The lecture was themed ‘2023-2027: Nigerians, elected leaders and expectations.’
Speaking during the event which took place at the Function Suite, Sheraton Hotel, Lagos State.
The PDP chieftain also backed the idea of state policing, noting that it would be a very effective way of securing the country.
According to George, ‘Having served that long in the military, I can authoritatively confirm to you that the Nigerian constitution is absolutely military in setting. In the military, orders come from top to bottom.
‘But in a democratic dispensation, powers come from the people to the top. But we have copied the American constitution, and that’s why things are not working. We must be deceiving ourselves if we think that this constitution will take us to the promised land.’
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Also speaking, Omoniyi Olubolade, former Minister of Special Duties, advised President Bola Tinubu to formulate policies that would alleviate poverty and suffering in the country and tackle high corruption among public officials.
He said part of the problem of the country was the faulty constitution imposed on Nigeria, noting that there must be an urgent restructuring of the country.
Speaking in a similar vein, Tola Adeniyi, renowned journalist and businessman, blamed Nigeria’s woes on corrupt and insincere political class.
He also identified the collapsed of regionalism and the current Presidential system for the country’s woes, noting that there was the need for a review of the current constitution for Nigeria to make progress.