The Chairman, Enugu Centre for the 2021 Senate Committee on Review of the 1999 Constitution has advised Nigerians asking for entirely new Constitution to first seek amendments to some sections in the existing Constitution.
Senator Ike Ekweremadu gave the advice at the Enugu Centre of the South East Zonal public hearing on the proposed alteration to the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999. The exercise is been conducted in the Six Geo-political zones of the country.
Ekweremadu was reacting to the demand of some Nigerians for a new Constitution instead of selective alterations at the Enugu Centre of the two-day public hearing.
The three times former Deputy Senate President stated that amending the Constitution was the only way to bring a befitting Constitution without calling for anarchy, stressing that ‘the process for a new Constitution is not provided in the Constitution.”
Citing example of rare occasion where such happened in other countries, the top rank lawmaker suggested that citizens should seek amendment to section 9 of the Constitution to provide templates or guidelines for a new constitution which he opined would include referendum.
He called on Nigerians to take advantage of the public hearing exercise to kick start the process so that at the appropriate time when the relevant sections of the constitution has been amended, Nigerians can have a conversation on having a befitting Constitution.