By Goodluck Ikiebe.
Participants in AfriHeritage Big Ideas Podium have emphasised the need for respect to the principles of Separation of Powers that allow each of the three arms of government to assert its independence for good governance.
The decision was part of recommendations at the end of the Big Ideas Podium entitled, Reworking the Nigerian constitution for National Transformation and Integration, in Enugu, South Eastern Nigeria.
A statement signed by Professor Ufo Okeke-Uzodike, Executive Director, African Heritage Institution and Barrister Justice Uhuegbu, President, Association of Good Governance in Nigeria, says there is need for re orientation of Nigerians by reestablishing value systems that tolerate cultural differences and support principles of honesty, integrity and justice.
The statement says that participants emphasised the need for full decentralisation of powers between the constituents states and the federal government as the concentration of power at the centre renders positive transformation impossible.
It recommends that no matter how good the Nigerian constitution is crafted, it will remain unworkable without full respect to the rule of law, accountability and a free press.
” Nigerians are being oppressed socially, economically, and politically going by events of the present day. It was observed that the unworkability of the constitution as a result of impuniity by the executive arm of government is the reason Nigeria is not making progress as it should” It noted.
Participants also observed that the major challenges associated with the current constitution is the non implementation or lack of strict adherence to its provisions by the government.
They question the sincerity of the executive arm of government when key officials say that Nigeria’s unity is non negotiable without providing any concrete steps to ensure concord.
They added that the transformation and Integration of Nigeria depends on a working constitution where it is respected as a supreme document.
