Mr. Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, has said that the current Nigerian constitution would not adequately address the nation’s economic predicaments and other myriad challenges.
Anyaoku told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in his country home, Obosi village in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra.
Obosi said this when he received Mrs. Joy Mbachi, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Awka State Correspondent, on a courtesy visit to his country home.
He said the current challenges being faced in the nation, like poverty, insecurity, and dilapidated infrastructure, among others, were serious challenges bedeviling the country.
“I am on record for saying that these challenges cannot be effectively addressed under the constitution and governance system we have at the moment.
“We cannot effectively address these challenges that have assumed a nationwide dimension, especially insecurity, which has pervaded the northern part of the country and other communities,” he said.
He stressed that the current constitution was a departure from the constitution that the nation’s founding fathers negotiated and agreed upon.
“For a pluralistic state like Nigeria, we have to return to those principles of the constitution as earlier agreed upon by our founding fathers.
“Until we do that, I am afraid that we cannot effectively deal with the challenges facing the nation,” he added.
When asked about the Monday sit-at-home observed in the Southeast region and the negative effects on the economy, the elder statesman said that the sit-at-home was causing great damage to the economy of the country.
“The sit-at-home is doing great damage to the economy of the Southeast region. I do not support the idea; I think it is doing great damage to the economy. We have to deal with the root cause of the sit-at-home, which is the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu.
“Notwithstanding the fact that the court of law had ordered his release, that word gives those who advocate and participate in sit-at-home the reason for doing so.
“I think that the cause of the sit-at-home should be addressed; I do not think that the sit-at-home should be maintained; it should be stopped,” he suggested.
On the Ito-Ogoto traditional event that was being celebrated every three years in the community, he observed that those who attained the age of 80 were celebrated.
He added that the Igbo culture respects age because it is believed that age brings wisdom. (NAN)
