The pan Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Thursday charged states and the National Assemblies to stop its ongoing blame game and pass the 1999 construction amendments into law.
Afenifere in a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan by its national publicity secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, said should the present assemblies fail to pass the amendments into law, it would be a case of ‘begin again’ for the next assemblies.
Specifically, Afenifere tasked states and the National Assemblies to ensure that the sections of the 1999 constitutions meant to be amended are expeditiously passed between now and January 2023.
“Presently, the National Assembly and Conference of Speakers of Houses of Assembly are trading blames on why the amendments have not been passed. Nigerians are not interested in the bickering. Rather, Nigerians want the amendments to be promptly passed and made to become law”, it said.
Afenifere added, ” Although the 44 amendments are short of what is expected, they are certainly better than what we have presently because of some powers they confer on state and local governments in the country.”
Stating that state police must be allowed in the amendments, the pan Yoruba socio- political organisation urged the National Assembly to factor in the amendments suggested by the speakers “since the constitution that included them in the process anticipates their inputs.”
Afenifere stated further that the amendments ” must continue till we get the restructured Nigeria that we desire soonest.”
“The provision on indigene ship as proposed must also be expunged to protect indigenous peoples.”
According to Afenifere in the statement, “proper and timely constitutional amendments can correct many of the lapses in the present constitution hence our support for their prompt passage and assent.”
