Opinions among members of the National Christian Elders Forum, NCEF, are divided when it comes to deciding on the best approach for drafting a new Constitution in preparation for another round of constitutional review by the National Assembly.
During a consultative meeting convened by NCEF via zoom on Thursday to discuss the new Constitution, the Christian elders found it challenging to reach a consensus on the methodology for the upcoming exercise.
The primary objective of the meeting was to grasp the various viewpoints presented in the proposals for a new Constitution within the NCEF and the different ethnic nationalities.
Mr. Tony Nnadi, the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self Determination, NINAS, argued that mere amendments to the Constitution would not bring about fairness and stability unless specific provisions imposed by past military administrations to establish a unitary Constitution are suspended. He insisted that only a completely new Constitution formulated by indigenous nationalities could address the country’s issues effectively.
In contrast, Jonathan Akuns, the traditional Ruler of Daffo in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, contended that Nigerian leaders overlooked the chance to revise the Constitution. According to him, the 1963 Republican Constitution remains intact and can simply be amended by the House of Representatives to safeguard Nigeria’s democratic and structural foundation.
Akuns emphasized the significance of the 1963 Republican Constitution, stating that revisiting it is crucial for preserving Nigeria’s democratic essence in the process of constitutional reforms.
Dr. Samuel Gani, the NCEF chairman, explained that the consultative meeting aimed to enable Christian elders to deliberate on the creation of a new Constitution for Nigeria.