Revisit 2014 confab resolutions, forget 1999 constitution – YCE

The Yoruba Council of Elders, on Wednesday, rose from its 19th National Executive Committee meeting at its secretariat in Ibadan, calling for the 1999 Constitution to be discarded.

It said the legal document represented a unitary constitution in disguise and encouraged large-scale corruption.

The meeting, which was presided over by the President-General of the group, Chief Idowu Sofola (SAN), also had in attendance its Secretary-General, Dr. Kunle Olajide; its Treasurer, Chief Bola Doherty; among others.

In a communiqué read at the end of the meeting, the elders congratulated the South-West governors on the outcome of their meeting in Abeokuta on Monday.

The YCE also commended the commitment of the governors to regional integration in agriculture, economy, education and security.

According to the communiqué, the resolution of the 2014 National Conference must be used as a template to draft a new constitution for Nigeria, stressing that it was the only solution to the multifacetted challenges confronting the country.

The council stated, “The 1999 Constitution, which in fact is the old military Decree 24, is a pseudo federal constitution, a unitary constitution in disguise and it cannot work in a multi-ethnic country like Nigeria.

“A constitution that neutralises the local government system, which is nearest to the people, has invariably consigned the people to irrelevance and put development at the grass roots in reverse gear.

“A constitution and system of government that continue to exploit natural resources to enrich the ruling class at the expense of the people cannot endure. This constitution compels corruption.”

The communiqué added, “Our country is presently confronted with daunting challenges of increasing youth and graduate unemployment, which is fuelling insecurity, kidnapping, armed robbery and separatist agitations. These challenges show that Nigeria’s problems are foundational and structural, therefore, constitutional.