A political scientist, Precious Adurasanmi Ojo has stated that several calls from Nigerians towards amendment the country’s constitution is a wrong priority.
The reaction came on Friday as the country readies for her 63rd Independence Day Celebration on 1st October, 2023.
The political scientist, fondly called ‘Speriro’ noted that the call comes as Nigerians are yet to fully enjoy the true nature of democracy, including safety of lives and properties.
” The first thing to understand is that for any country to release itself from the yoke of colonial masters ,definitely the country is a democratic state.”
” And when you look at concept of democracy originated from Greece,’ it is the government of the people, by the people and for the people’, so it means that in any democratic setting, the people’s interest must be paramount for the government”, he said.
Speriro maintained that the concept of democracy is yet to be institutionalized, stressing the democracy is yet to be consolidated in Nigeria therefore panging both the leaders and the led.
” Rule of law is not established.Fundamental rights are not established . Constitutionalism is yet to be formally established, and as result has made life difficult for everybody and that is why you see people clam our everyday from government to engineer the necessities including protection of lives and properties of citizens. Nigerians in this contemporary world cannot sleep with their two eyes closed, to mean security of the country is not sustained, making Nigerians to live in fear”, he added.
Ojo said the concern of many Nigerians about non-institutionality of democracy signals the essence of democracy is defeated, quoting a university political scientist at the department of Political Science, University of Lagos State,Professor Aworawo who stated in one of seminar lectures that ‘If the state of things continue like this in Nigeria, then, the living will covet the dead’, explaining that there is a need to consider the democratic principles, precepts, expected in action are missing.
” Nigeria is now joining poorest of the poor in the world. Nigerians before they could put their hands to their mouth must look at their neighbour. Then, what is the essence of democracy? What is the essence if being 63 years old when you cannot even sustain credibility of the state”, he challenged.
The Political scientist highlighted that there is nothing any new administration in the country will do better if the rule of democracy is not sustained, noting that the present administration led by Bola Ahmed Tinubu, despite its brilliant effort , Nigerians still complain of complicated hardship in the country.
Precious Ojo called every leader in the country to see the need to implement true democratic nature for better thriving of the country, trivializing the submission of a Korean philosopher ,Zheungguin Misshi who maintained that ‘ human beings should not be answered well every time’ When you keep saying ‘yes’ to them their requests will be endless, let them feel the space of ‘No'”
Speriro implored the Nigeria government never to act in direction of the Korean dictatorial leader, believing the leaders in the country are capable of better fruitful administration.
Meanwhile, the political scientist called Nigeria leaders to follow the constitution to letter , while there should be no need for amendment again, adding that several amendment from Richards Constitution of 1922 until now is enough for better steering, if true democratic agenda would be given rise to in the country.
