Senior Advocate says 1999 constitution, cornerstone of Nigeria problems

By Mohammed Mala
Kanempress
20th December 2023

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Robert Clarke, has described the 1999 Constitution as the cornerstone of problems.

Clarke stated this on Tuesday in reaction to the truce reached as President Bola Tinubu once again intervened in the crisis in Rivers State, Southern, Nigeria.

“The 1999 constitution is the cornerstone of our problems. In every area of political line, especially in the area of election, when the constitution restricts those who can come and be voted for, or who can vote for, something must be wrong with that constitution. The problem today is not what the President says,” Clarke said while answering questions on on a private Arise TV’s Good Morning Show.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria faulted the demolition of Rivers state House of Assembly complex by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

“Why should a governor bring a caterpillar and bring down the state House of Assembly? Does that show sanity and you voted for such a person?,” Clarke asked.

On whether President Bola Tinubu has a constitutional role in solving sub-national matters, Clarke said that President Tinubu has no constitutional role in the matter.

“The constitutional role of the President in all these fracas, there should have been none. The only time the constitution allowed the Federal Government to put its mouth was during the First Republic,” Clarke stated.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria called for the amendment of the Constitution.

“All that we are running after today is power and money. Those two elements, where do you get them in Nigeria? They are only from politics,” Clarke said.

“If you count down governors who have served in Nigeria since 2000, ask them to come show us their bank account, you will be shocked,” he pointed out.

“We have to ask ourselves, is politics in Nigeria only meant for politicians? Why can’t people like us contest an election without joining a political party? Why do we need a political party? This is the problem we have in Nigeria today,” Clarke expressed.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria recommended three areas in the constitution which need amendment.

The three areas, according to Clarke are: Local government; election; who can belong to a party and why should a party be the dominant factor in elections in Nigeria.

“Once you do the three areas in Nigeria today, I can assure you, you won’t hear about any court cases. This country will move forward,” the Senior Advocate of Nigeria said.

Kanempress recalled that the political crisis in Rivers state may have ceased as parties reached a truce on Monday night after about three hours of the talks at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, between President Bola Tinubu, Rivers Governor, Mr Siminalayi Fubara; his Deputy, Mrs Ngozi Odu; a former governor of the State, Peter Odili and the immediate past governor now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesome Wike, and other stakeholders.