President, Ibadan Youth Indigenes Association For Development, Wasiu Olanrewaju has maintained same stance with the legal scion, Chief Afe Babalola on suspension of 2023 general elections, instead, he called for constitutional, institutional and policy reforms.
Olanrewaju maintained this stance in a release he personally signed and made available to naijatodaynew.com
According to him,”you will agree with that Nigeria is in social , political, and economic conundrum ; Gross Insecurity, Unemployment, Over- dependence on imports ,Perennial inflation, Devaluation of the Naira , Fraud , Corruption, Gross National Debt , over – dependence on oil revenue, terrorism, ethnic division, extreme poverty, mass illiteracy e.t.c
“The greatest problem of Nigeria is mass illiteracy, which would continue to make Nigeria to be an un- industrialised country of poor citizens , to be exploited rather perpetually by the Mercinery or mercantilist or prebendal politicians; unless , instead of 2023 elections, we have constitutional, institutional, policy reforms . A Unitary system for a multi – ethnic , heterogeneous, illiterate and un – industrialised country simply can not work. We need a confederal constitution or a very loose federal constitution. This is the message of Aare Afe Babalola, S.A.N
” By the years 2005, 2006 and 2007, every normal person would see the prevision of Aare Afe Babalola as invaluable. The abrogation by the military of the 1963 federal and democratic constitution was unlawful, unconstitutional null and void . The 1979 and the 1999 constitution are constitutional force majeure, imposed under duress by the military.
” By the doctrine of necessity, it is lawful for the National Assembly, to recognize the 1963 constitution and begin the process of reinstallation of that constitution, interim government
“May God help Nigeria accordingly, otherwise suffering of Nigerians will increase, May God forbid”.
Chief Afe Babalola had earlier made clear stance on suspension of 2023 general elections and its details are as follows:
Legal icon and elder statesman, Chief Afe Babalola, says an interim government should replace the current administration at the expiration of President Muhammadu Buhari tenure in 2023.
Babalola told a news conference in Ado-Ekiti on Monday that the interim government should be in office for six months to chart a new course for Nigeria.
He stressed that the 2023 elections should be suspended until Nigeria has “a new-look peoples’ Constitution which should provide for part-time legislators and non-executive president’’.
Babalola said that members of the interim government should be drawn from all living former presidents and vice-presidents; some selected ministers and governors and delegates of prominent professional associations.
The professional associations could be the Nigeria Medical Association, Nigeria Bar Association, Nigeria Labour Congress, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Academic Staff Union of Universities and Civil Society Organisations.
The elder statesman noted that such delegates should be elected on zero party bases.
He said it was regrettable that the current 1999 Constitution, foisted on Nigerians by the military was no longer in tune with realities of the day.
“The same Constitution has made politics become not only very attractive, but the only lucrative business in Nigeria today.
“What this means is that any election that holds under the present scenario will end up producing transactional and recycled leaders, with no ability to turn things around,’’ he said.
The university proprietor advised that the new Constitution which should be coordinated by the interim government, should spell out rules and regulations on improved qualifications of those contesting elections.
He added that the new Constitution should provide for part-time legislators and not full-time legislators, considering the attendant waste of resources.
“The new Constitution should also provide that there shall be no salary, but sitting allowances only for lawmakers.
“It should provide a true federal system of government, instead of the expensive presidential system of government. I suggest parliamentary system of government, with a unicameral legislature.
“The new Constitution should also provide a body at the local, state and federal levels to screen all aspirants on the sources of their wealth and means of livelihood, criminal record which includes pending suits,’’ he said.
The legal luminary added that any person that would become the president of Nigeria should not be older than 60 years of age and must have a varsity degree.
