Christian Elders Disagree on Modalities to Be Adopted in Berthing New Constitution

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

Christian Elders under the umbrella of National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF), have disagreed over the modalities to be adopted in birthing a new Constitution as engagement continued on the amendment of constitution by the National Assembly.

The Christian elders made their views known during a consultative meeting held Thursday via zoom, which was convened by NCEF on the new constitution.

The traditional Ruler of Daffo in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State,  Jonathan  Akuns, and the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self Determination (NINAS), Mr. Tony Nnadi, were presented different views during the meeting.

Akuns regretted that the Nigerian governing eras of 1966 to 1999 missed or messed with the opportunity to have called for the needed amendment of the 1963 constitution in order to restore the democratic foundations of the federal structure.

He argued that the 1963 Republican Constitution was not abrogated, saying all the House of Representatives needed to do was to amend it to preserve Nigeria’s democratic and structural foundation.

Presenting a counter submission, Nnadi, insisted that amending the constitution would not berth equity and stability without suspending certain provisions stipulated by successive military regimes to foist a unitary constitution.

He emphasised that nothing short of a brand new corruption produced by indigenous nationalities could set the country right.

Buttressing his point, Nnadi cited Section 14 sub 2 of the Constitution, adding that what the current National Assembly wanted to do was not different from the past attempts at tinkering with the country’s grundnorm.

Elder Ayokunle Fagbemi, remarked that as the House of Representatives got ready to review the Constitution, it was necessary to build scenarios, noting that while the best case scenario was to birth a new constitution, the worse case scenario would be that the legislature would not succeed in amending or getting a new constitution.

Earlier, Chairman of NCEF, Dr. Samuel Gani, disclosed that the consultative meeting was convened for Christian elders to deliberate on a new constitution for Nigeria.