Nigeria’s constitution riddled with inconsistencies – Onaiyekan

His Eminence, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, emeritus Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, has stated that Nigeria’s constitution is riddled with inconsistencies.

Onaiyekan stated this while speaking on the need to decentralise power and make the states efficient, rather than pursuing a constitutional amendment.

The House of Representatives on February 26, 2024, inaugurated the committee on the review of the 1999 constitution.

The committee, on its inauguration, gave a 24-month timeline for the conclusion of the exercise.

However, speaking in Abuja at a ‘policy dialogue on new governance structure for Nigeria’, organised by the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought on Friday, Onaiyekan noted that restructuring is the best solution to the current challenges facing Nigeria.

He further explained that the present constitution does not include religious contribution to national building.

“The present constitution, whether amended or not, is riddled with inconsistencies or contradictions, problems when it comes to how religion relates to the nation.

“Which is why it is obvious we must look at it again. So, maybe it is good that we give it a look at changing to a parliamentary system.

“Perhaps we need to find out from those soldiers who introduced the presidential system and threw away the parliamentary system, What were their reasons?”

Also speaking, George Ehusani, a Catholic priest, said poor leadership would ruin a country no matter how perfect a governance blueprint is.

“For I have become more convinced today than ever before that leadership debauchery and elite idiocy will ruin any nation no matter how perfect the political structure and governance blueprint that they adopt,” he said.