President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, has said that 1999 Constitution’ll destroy Nigeria, if not discarded.
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?In a recent interview with Chief Iwuanyanwu in Owerri, the Imo State capital, he raised grave concerns about the fate of Nigeria if the current 1999 Constitution is not discarded and replaced.
The Ohanaeze President-General emphasised the urgent need for a Constitutional overhaul, stating that the current framework is fundamentally flawed and detrimental to the nation’s future.
“We need a system that will give the federating units more powers, so that there will be healthy competition”, Iwuanyanwu stressed, pointing out the rampant dependency on the Federal Government for funding and the resultant lack of development initiatives at the State level.
Highlighting the on-going Constitutional review by the 10th National Assembly, Iwuanyanwu underscored the necessity for specific demands and proposals from Ohanaeze Ndigbo during this critical period. He expressed concerns that failure to address Constitutional shortcomings could lead to the country’s demise.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s Constitutional history, Iwuanyanwu traced the evolution of past frameworks, noting that changes made by military regimes failed to reflect the desires of the Nigerian people. He advocated for a decentralisation of power, proposing a return to a true federal system where states or regions have more autonomy.
Recalling the era of the Independence Constitution, Iwuanyanwu cited the healthy rivalry and competition among regions, which led to significant economic growth and development. He emphasised the need to empower states as the federating units, enabling them to control their revenue and drive progress independently.
In line with Ohanaeze’s vision, Iwuanyanwu called for the addition of one more State to the South-East region to achieve parity with other zones. He stressed the importance of maintaining States as the federating units, citing potential complications with reverting to the old regional arrangement.
In conclusion, Iwuanyanwu reiterated Ohanaeze’s commitment to presenting a comprehensive vision for constitutional reform, advocating for a system that fosters equitable development and ensures Nigeria’s survival as a united and prosperous nation.
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